dou2 seoi2倒水
Jyutpingdou2 seoi2
Yaledóu séui
Definition
To pour water from a container, or figuratively, to rain heavily or drain batteries quickly.
- to pour water from a container
- figurativeto rain heavily; to pour with rain
- figurativeto drain battery power very quickly
colloquialweatherdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal action of pouring, this phrase is the standard way to describe torrential, relentless rainfall. When used for rain, it is almost always followed by the particle 噉 to create a simile, emphasizing the sheer volume of water falling from the sky. It carries a sense of intensity that simple words for rain lack.
Examples
It is raining heavily outside, just like pouring water.
Related words
Common phrases
raining cats and dogs
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 倒瀉, which specifically refers to the accidental spilling of liquid. Using 倒水 for an accidental spill sounds like you are intentionally pouring the water out.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
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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).
