baak6 seoi2白水
Jyutpingbaak6 seoi2
Yalebaahk séui
Definition
Plain water; boiled water that has cooled down and contains no additives.
colloquialdrink
How it's used
Refers specifically to water without any additives like tea leaves, sugar, or flavorings. While it is perfectly understood, many locals simply use the word 水 to refer to plain water in a restaurant setting, as the context makes it clear you are not asking for tea or soup.
Measure word
bui1杯būiExamples
I would like a glass of plain water, please.
Are you only drinking plain water?
Related words
Common phrases
to drink plain water
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 白開水. While the meaning is identical, using the full three character version sounds slightly formal or like a direct translation from Mandarin in a casual Cantonese conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
