cung1 taam5沖淡冲淡
Jyutpingcung1 taam5
Yalechūng táahm
Definition
To dilute a drink with water, or to weaken and play down an effect or impact.
- to dilute or water down a drink
- to weaken or play down an effect or impact
colloquialfooddrink
How it's used
Beyond literal dilution of liquids, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe weakening the impact or intensity of an event, emotion, or memory. When used in this abstract sense, it often implies a deliberate effort to soften a harsh reality or reduce the significance of a situation.
Examples
This coffee is too strong, could you dilute it a bit for me?
Related words
Common phrases
to dilute the taste
to weaken the impact
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 溝淡, which is a more informal, colloquial way to describe mixing a liquid to make it less concentrated. While 沖淡 can be used in both formal and informal settings, 溝淡 is strictly for casual, everyday speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
