ceoi1 hau2 saau3吹口哨
Jyutpingceoi1 hau2 saau3
Yalechēui háu saau
Definition
To whistle; to produce a sound by blowing or sucking air through pursed lips.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of producing a musical sound with the lips. While it describes the physical action, it is also frequently used to describe the act of catcalling or signaling someone in a casual, sometimes rude manner. It functions as a verb phrase where the object is often implied rather than stated.
Examples
He likes to whistle while walking.
Do you know how to whistle?
Related words
Common phrases
to whistle to get someone's attention
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
