caam1摻掺
Jyutpingcaam1
Yalechāam
Definition
To blend or mix; to adulterate; to take by the arm and assist.
- to blend; to mix; to adulterate
- to take by the arm and assist
colloquialdaily actionsfood
How it's used
Primarily used to describe the physical act of holding someone by the arm to help them walk, often when they are elderly, injured, or intoxicated. When used in the context of mixing, it implies combining different substances, such as adding milk to coffee or mixing different types of tea leaves. It carries a sense of manual intervention or deliberate combination rather than just accidental mixing.
Examples
Their legs are weak, you need to support them by the arm while walking.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 摻 with 撈, but 撈 is more general for mixing things like noodles or ingredients, whereas 摻 specifically implies a blend of substances or the physical act of supporting someone.
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.
