我好攰
ngo hou gui
To say "I am tired" in Cantonese, use 我好攰 (ngo hou gui).
The phrase is used to express a lack of energy or a need for sleep. While the word 好 (hou) literally means "very", in this context it is the standard way to express the state of being tired, which is why it is often translated simply as "I am tired."
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of 我 (I), 好 (very/so) and 攰 (tired).
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the statement sound more natural and softer in casual conversation, you can add the sentence-final particle 呀 (aa1) to the end of the phrase, resulting in 我好攰呀.
How do you pronounce it?
ngo hou gui
Did you know?
- The character 攰 is used almost exclusively in Cantonese and is not used in Mandarin to mean 'tired'. A Mandarin speaker would use 累 instead.
- The character 攰 contains the radical for 'meat' or 'body' on the left, visually linking the feeling of tiredness to the physical flesh.
- In many Cantonese-speaking contexts, if you say 我好攰 while performing a physical task, people might interpret it as an unspoken request for you to stop working or for someone to help you.
Examples in context
- 我好攰。I am tired.This sentence is useful for stating that you are tired.Tatoeba #473052 by Riko, translation #397714 by brauliobezerra
- 我好攰噃，我要先走。I am so tired, I need to leave first.
- 我好攰，想去瞓覺。ngo5 hou2 gui6, soeng2 heoi3 fan3 gaau3.I am tired and want to go to sleep.
- 今日返工真係令我好攰。gam1 jat6 faan1 gung1 zan1 hai6 ling6 ngo5 hou2 gui6.Work today really made me tired.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking after a long walk.
- 子健 Tsz Kin曉彤，你仲行唔行得？hiu2 tung4, nei5 zung6 haang4 m4 haang4 dak1?Hiu Tung, can you still walk?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung我好攰，我想休息下。ngo5 hou2 gui6, ngo5 soeng2 jau1 sik1 haa5.I am tired, I want to rest for a bit.
- 子健 Tsz Kin噉我哋喺呢度坐下先。gam2 ngo5 dei6 hai2 nei1 dou6 zo6 haa5 sin1.Then let's sit here first.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好，多謝你，子健。hou2, do1 ze6 nei5, zi2 gin6.Okay, thank you, Zi Kin.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
