cing1 cing1 co2 co2清清楚楚
Jyutpingcing1 cing1 co2 co2
Yalechīng chīng chó chó
Definition
Clearly expressed, direct, and easy to understand without any ambiguity.
colloquialdescriptionscommunication
How it's used
Reduplication of adjectives like this is a hallmark of Cantonese, adding emphasis and a sense of completeness to the state being described. It implies not just clarity, but a lack of ambiguity or hidden meaning. It is often used to praise someone for being articulate or to demand that someone stop being vague.
Examples
He speaks very clearly; I understood as soon as I heard him.
Can you explain that clearly?
Related words
Common phrases
to explain something clearly
to write something clearly
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a verb phrase, but it functions strictly as an adjective or adverb. You must use it with a verb like 講 or 寫 to describe the action of communicating clearly, rather than using it as a standalone verb.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
