bai3 sak1閉塞闭塞
Jyutpingbai3 sak1
Yalebai sāk
Definition
To block or obstruct, preventing something from flowing freely.
neutralhealthtransport
How it's used
Primarily used in medical or technical contexts to describe physical blockages like arteries or pipes. While it can describe traffic congestion, it carries a more formal or clinical tone compared to everyday words like 塞住. It implies a complete or significant lack of flow rather than just a minor delay.
Examples
Do you know why the road is so congested?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe social awkwardness or a person being closed-minded, as it specifically refers to physical or structural obstruction. For describing a person's personality, use 固執 instead.
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.
