can4 fui1塵灰尘灰
Jyutpingcan4 fui1
Yalechàhn fūi
Definition
Dust
colloquialhomedaily actions
How it's used
While 塵灰 is a valid compound, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use the single character 塵 to refer to dust in everyday life. Using the two-character form can sound slightly more formal or descriptive, as if emphasizing the accumulation of grime. It is common to hear people complain about 塵 instead of 塵灰 when cleaning their homes.
Measure word
di1啲dīExamples
There is a lot of dust on the cabinet, wipe it off.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not assume that adding 灰 makes the word more common or natural. In almost every daily context, 塵 is the preferred term, and using 塵灰 may sound slightly literary or unnecessarily wordy.
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.
