cau3 jau4 jik1臭油膉
Jyutpingcau3 jau4 jik1
Yalechau yàuh yīk
Definition
Rancid smell; the offensive, stale odor of decaying or spoiled oil.
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How it's used
Describes the specific, unpleasant scent of old cooking oil or oxidized fats that have gone rancid. It is frequently used to describe clothes that have been stored in a damp or poorly ventilated space for too long, causing the fabric to absorb a stale, oily odor. The term carries a strong negative connotation and is often associated with a lack of cleanliness.
Examples
This shirt has been sitting for a long time and has a rancid smell.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general bad smells like 臭味, as this specifically refers to the chemical breakdown of oils or fats. It is not used to describe body odor or garbage smells.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
