gai2 jau2偈油
Jyutpinggai2 jau2
Yalegái yáu
Definition
Motor oil; engine oil or lubricant.
colloquialtransport
How it's used
The term relies on the loanword 偈, which comes from the English word engine. It is the standard way to refer to vehicle maintenance fluids in a workshop or garage setting. Using the formal term 引擎潤滑油 would sound overly technical or like a written manual.
Measure word
gun3罐gunExamples
The car sounds like it has run out of engine oil, it is very loud.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 偈油 with 偈, as the latter refers to the engine itself. Beginners sometimes mistakenly use 偈 as a general term for any machine, but it is specifically reserved for automotive engines.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
