caai2 seoi2 jing2踩水影
Jyutpingcaai2 seoi2 jing2
Yalecháai séui yíng
Definition
To tread water.
colloquialsportsdaily actions
How it's used
This term is specifically used for the act of keeping one's head above water by moving the legs and arms while remaining in one spot. It is common in swimming contexts and often implies a need to stay afloat without swimming forward. Unlike general swimming terms, it focuses on the vertical, stationary position in the water.
Examples
Do you know how to tread water in the deep end?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general swimming terms like 游水. Remember that 踩水影 is a specific technique for staying in place, not for moving across the pool.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
