ceoi3毳
Jyutpingceoi3
Yalecheui
Definition
Fine animal hair, down, or fur; also used to mean crisp or fragile.
- fine animal hair; down; fur
- crisp; fragile
colloquialclothingdescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily to describe the unpleasant, prickly sensation of coarse fibers or animal hair against the skin. It is rarely used in formal writing and is almost exclusively reserved for tactile descriptions of clothing or fabrics that have lost their softness. You will often hear it used when complaining about cheap or poorly maintained knitwear.
Examples
The fibers on this shirt are very coarse and scratchy, it feels uncomfortable to touch.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where the character often refers to fine hair or down. In Cantonese, it specifically carries a negative connotation of being rough, scratchy, or irritating to the touch.
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.
