caat3 ngaa4刷牙
Jyutpingcaat3 ngaa4
Yalechaat ngàh
Definition
To brush one's teeth.
colloquialdaily actionshealth
How it's used
This verb is often used as a separable verb in Cantonese, meaning you can insert aspect markers like 咗 or 緊 directly between 刷 and 牙. It is a standard daily routine term that carries no special formality or slang connotations. When talking about the act of brushing, it is common to focus on the frequency or the timing relative to sleeping.
Examples
Have you brushed your teeth after waking up this morning?
I have a habit of brushing my teeth twice a day.
Related words
Common phrases
to put toothpaste on a toothbrush
to brush teeth very thoroughly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where the object 牙 is sometimes omitted or treated differently. In Cantonese, keeping the full phrase 刷牙 is the most natural way to express the action, and you should avoid trying to shorten it to just 刷.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
