dou1嘟
Jyutpingdou1
Yaledōu
Definition
A beep; a short, high-pitched sound.
colloquialtransporttechnology
How it's used
Originally an onomatopoeia for a high-pitched sound, this word has evolved into a common verb for the act of tapping an electronic card or device against a reader. It is now standard to use it to describe the entire process of scanning a transit card or payment device. The sound itself is often referred to as 嘟聲.
Examples
The machine beeped once when I went through the gate.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 篤, which means to poke or stab with a finger or pointed object. While they sound similar, 嘟 specifically refers to the electronic beep or the action of tapping a card, whereas 篤 is a physical action.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
