cyu5 sik1曙色
Jyutpingcyu5 sik1
Yalechyúh sīk
Definition
The light of early dawn.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
Literary and poetic in nature, this term is rarely used in casual daily conversation. It is mostly found in written descriptions of scenery or in creative writing to evoke a specific, serene atmosphere. Using it in a standard sentence about waking up or starting the day might sound overly dramatic or archaic to a native speaker.
Examples
I can see the dawn light before the sky is fully bright.
Related words
Common phrases
the first light of dawn appearing
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general terms for sunrise like 日出, but 曙色 specifically refers to the quality of the light itself rather than the event of the sun appearing. Avoid using it in technical or weather report contexts.
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.
