cau1 seoi2 gei1抽水機抽水机
Jyutpingcau1 seoi2 gei1
Yalechāu séui gēi
Definition
Water pump; a machine used to pump water.
- water pump; a machine used to pump water
- figurativesomeone who is skilled at making sly verbal attacks or mocking others
colloquialother
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning as a mechanical pump, this term is frequently used metaphorically in social and political commentary. It refers to someone who takes advantage of a situation or a person's misfortune to gain attention, popularity, or to make sarcastic remarks. When used in this figurative sense, it often carries a negative connotation of opportunism.
Measure word
bou6部bouhExamples
The water pump at the construction site is broken.
Related words
Common phrases
to turn on the water pump
to borrow a water pump
Common mistake
Do not confuse the literal machine with the slang verb 抽水, which means to sexually harass someone or to take advantage of a situation for personal gain. While the machine is a noun, the verb form is highly sensitive and carries a very different, often offensive, meaning.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
