dai2 siu1抵消
Jyutpingdai2 siu1
Yaledái sīu
Definition
To offset, counteract, cancel out, or write off.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on the balancing of two opposing forces or values, often used in contexts involving finance, physics, or health. It implies that one action or amount neutralizes the impact of another, effectively bringing the net result to zero or a reduced state. It is a formal term that is frequently used in professional or analytical discussions rather than casual daily chatter.
Examples
The effects of these two things just perfectly cancel each other out.
Can doing more exercise offset the extra food you ate?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 抵死, which describes someone who deserves a bad outcome. Learners sometimes mistakenly use 抵消 when they simply mean to delete or remove something, but it specifically requires a counter-balancing relationship between two items.
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.
