tu siab
The Hmong phrase for "sad" is tu siab.
tu siab is used to describe feeling sorrow. It is also used to express feelings of disappointment or regret regarding a person or a specific situation.
Meaning: feeling sorrow (adj)
Did you know?
- While English speakers feel sadness in the heart, a Hmong person describes it as the 'liver' breaking or snapping.
- Because tu siab can mean 'regret', it is often used in traditional Hmong funeral songs to express the pain of a life cut short.
- The component tu in tu siab literally means 'to snap' or 'to break apart'.
Examples in context
- Kuv tu siab heev.I am very sad.
- Nws tu siab heev thaum tsis pom koj.She feels very sad when she doesn't see you.
Example conversation
Xiong and Nao are talking about a friend who moved away.
- XiongKuv tu siab uas peb tus phooj ywg mus.I am sad that our friend left.
- NaoKuv los kuj tu siab thiab.I am also sad too.
- XiongPeb yuav nrhiav kev sib ntsib dua.We will find a way to meet again.
- NaoTau, kuv vam tias peb yuav ntsib.Yes, I hope we will meet.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries siab, tu, tu siab, CC BY-SA 4.0.
