faa1 si6 ling2花士令
Jyutpingfaa1 si6 ling2
Yalefā sih líng
Definition
Vaseline or petroleum jelly.
colloquialhealthother
How it's used
This term is a direct phonetic loan from the brand name Vaseline, which has become the genericized trademark for petroleum jelly in Hong Kong. It is used almost exclusively in daily life to refer to the product for moisturizing skin or soothing minor irritations. You will rarely see it used in formal writing, where the generic term 凡士林 is preferred.
Measure word
zeon1樽jēunExamples
Your feet are very dry, put some Vaseline on them.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the spoken pronunciation of 花士令 with the written form 凡士林. While they refer to the same product, using the written form in casual conversation can sound overly formal or stiff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
