fai3 seoi2廢水废水
Jyutpingfai3 seoi2
Yalefai séui
Definition
Sugary, unhealthy drinks such as bubble tea, fruit tea, and smoothies.
colloquialdrinkfood
How it's used
This term is a playful, self-deprecating way to describe sugary beverages that provide little nutritional value. It reflects a common cultural obsession with bubble tea in Hong Kong, where people often jokingly acknowledge that their drink choice is unhealthy while consuming it anyway. The term is almost exclusively used for cold, sweet drinks sold at tea shops rather than packaged sodas or juices.
Measure word
bui1杯būiExamples
Are you drinking junk drinks again today?
It is so hot, I really want to buy a sugary drink.
Related words
Common phrases
to quit drinking sugary drinks
craving for sugary drinks
Common mistake
Do not use this term to refer to actual wastewater or sewage, which is also called 廢水 in formal written Chinese. In a casual conversation, the context of bubble tea shops will make the meaning clear, but avoid using it in professional or environmental discussions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
