can1 zeoi2親嘴亲嘴
Jyutpingcan1 zeoi2
Yalechān jéui
Definition
To kiss someone, typically on the face or lips.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the physical act of kissing, often carrying a slightly more formal or descriptive tone than the common colloquial verb 錫. While 錫 is the everyday word for both kissing and showing affection, 親嘴 is more clinical or descriptive of the action itself. It is rarely used when talking about kissing a child or a family member, where 錫 is the only natural choice.
Examples
They are kissing on the street.
Related words
Common phrases
kissing in public
Common mistake
Do not use 親嘴 to mean showing affection to family members, as it sounds overly sexual or clinical in that context. Use 錫 instead for any kind of affectionate kiss on the cheek or forehead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
