粗口
chou1 hau2
The English phrase "bad words" is translated into Cantonese as 粗口 (chou1 hau2).
To express the action of swearing, use the verb 講 (gong2, to speak) before 粗口, resulting in the phrase 講粗口 (to say bad words / to swear). A common phrase used by parents or teachers to tell someone to stop using profanity is 唔好講粗口 (don't say bad words).
How do you pronounce it?
chou1 hau2
Did you know?
- There is a cultural distinction between 'bad words' used as genuine insults and those used as 'sentence particles' to add emphasis or rhythmic flow among close friends.
- The term 粗口 literally translates to 'coarse mouth', using the word 'coarse' to describe the texture or quality of the speech.
- In Cantonese pop culture, such as Cantopop lyrics or films, 'bad words' are often replaced by rhythmic nonsense sounds or high-pitched phonetic approximations to bypass censorship while still conveying the emotional impact.
Examples in context
- 佢喺街度講粗口。keoi5 hai2 gaai1 dou6 gong2 cou1 hau2.He is saying bad words on the street.
- 唔好喺細路面前講粗口。m4 hou2 hai2 sai3 lou6 min6 cin6 gong2 cou1 hau2.Don't say bad words in front of children.
- 點解你要講咁多粗口？dim2 gaai2 nei5 jiu3 gong2 gam3 do1 cou1 hau2?Why are you saying so many bad words?
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Nga Ting are talking about a movie they saw.
- 家明 Ka Ming呢套戲入面好多粗口。ni1 tou3 hei3 jap6 min6 hou2 do1 cou1 hau2.There are a lot of bad words in this movie.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting係呀，真係好難聽。hai6 aa3, zan1 hai6 hou2 naan4 teng1.Yes, it is really unpleasant to hear.
- 家明 Ka Ming雅婷，你覺得呢啲戲好唔好？nga5 ting4, nei5 gok3 dak1 nei1 di1 hei3 hou2 m4 hou2?Nga Ting, do you think these movies are good?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting我覺得唔太好。ngo5 gok3 dak1 m4 taai3 hou2.I think they are not very good.
