ci1 wong4雌黃雌黄

Jyutpingci1 wong4

Yalechī wòhng

名詞

Definition

Orpiment; a toxic, yellow arsenic trisulfide mineral historically used to correct writing or as Chinese medicine.

neutralnatureother

How it's used

Historically, this substance was used as a correction fluid for manuscripts written on yellow paper, leading to the idiom 信口雌黃 which refers to someone who speaks recklessly or changes their story easily. It is rarely encountered in daily life outside of historical contexts, traditional Chinese medicine, or geology discussions. Because it is highly toxic, it is strictly handled as a chemical or mineral specimen rather than a common household item.

Examples

ni1呢di1啲kwong3礦mat6物hai6係ci1雌wong4黃，ji5以cin4前wui2會jung6用lei4嚟goi2改co3錯zi6字㗎。

This mineral is orpiment, it was used to correct mistakes in the past.

ci1雌wong4黃bun2本san1身jau5有duk6毒，cin1千kei4祈m4唔hou2好lyun6亂gam3咁dim3掂aa4呀。

Orpiment is toxic, so please do not touch it carelessly.

Common phrases

seon3信hau2口ci1雌wong4黃

to speak recklessly or change one's story at will

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with modern correction fluid, but it is a specific mineral. Do not use it to refer to white-out or correction tape in modern contexts.