gaap3 cyun4甲醛
Jyutpinggaap3 cyun4
Yalegaap chyùhn
Definition
Formaldehyde; a colorless, strong-smelling gas used in manufacturing and as a preservative.
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How it's used
Commonly associated with the pungent, chemical smell found in newly renovated homes or brand new furniture. It is frequently discussed in the context of indoor air quality and health concerns in Hong Kong apartments. People often use it to explain why they need to keep windows open after painting or installing new cabinets.
Examples
The furniture smells strongly of formaldehyde after the renovation.
Related words
Common phrases
remove formaldehyde
formaldehyde levels exceed the standard
Common mistake
Learners often confuse it with generic chemical smells, but it specifically refers to the toxic gas released by adhesives and resins in construction materials. Do not use it to describe the smell of cleaning products like bleach, which is usually referred to as 漂白水味.
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.
