cau4稠
Jyutpingcau4
Yalechàuh
Definition
Viscous, thick, or concentrated, especially of liquids.
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 杰 instead of 稠 in daily life. While 稠 is technically the character for thick consistency, it is rarely used in speech and can sound overly formal or literary. Using 杰 ensures you sound natural when describing food textures like porridge, sauces, or soups.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 稠 because they see it in dictionaries, but it will sound unnatural to locals. Stick to 杰 for all colloquial contexts involving food or liquid viscosity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
