ceoi3脆
Jyutpingceoi3
Yalecheui
Definition
Brittle, crisp, or crunchy.
- brittle; easily broken or fractured when under pressure
- crisp; crunchy; having a pleasant, firm texture in the mouth
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Beyond describing food texture, this word is frequently used in the reduplicated form 脆卜卜 to emphasize a satisfying, fresh crunch. It is the standard way to describe the ideal texture for fried items like spring rolls or deep-fried pork chop. When referring to materials, it implies a lack of flexibility, suggesting that something will snap rather than bend under pressure.
Examples
Are the potato chips crispy?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person's voice or personality, as it is strictly reserved for physical textures and material properties. Learners sometimes confuse it with 鬆, which refers to a crumbly or airy texture rather than a sharp, brittle crunch.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
