gei1 jau2機油机油
Jyutpinggei1 jau2
Yalegēi yáu
Definition
Engine oil or motor oil; lubricant applied to machinery to reduce friction.
neutraltransportwork
How it's used
Refers specifically to engine oil or industrial lubricants used to reduce friction in mechanical parts. While it shares the character 油 with cooking oil, it is never used for food. It is most commonly heard in the context of vehicle maintenance at a garage or when dealing with heavy machinery.
Measure word
gun3罐gunExamples
The car seems to be low on oil, could you take a look for me?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 潤滑劑, which is a broader term that can refer to personal lubricants or various industrial greases. If you are talking about a car, always use 機油.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
