cung1 taam5 seoi2沖淡水冲淡水
Jyutpingcung1 taam5 seoi2
Yalechūng táahm séui
Definition
To be a wet blanket; to dampen someone's enthusiasm.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This expression is a vivid metaphor for someone who pours cold water on a lively situation. It implies that the person is actively killing the mood or enthusiasm of a group. It is almost exclusively used to describe someone who ruins a fun or excited vibe with negative comments or a gloomy attitude.
Examples
Don't be a wet blanket all the time, everyone is having so much fun.
He was a wet blanket again, making the whole atmosphere awkward.
Related words
Common phrases
always being a wet blanket
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of diluting something with water, which is also expressed using 沖淡. Context is essential to distinguish between the metaphorical social behavior and the physical action.
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.
