geng2 hot3頸喝颈喝
Jyutpinggeng2 hot3
Yalegéng hot
Definition
Thirsty.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This term is the standard colloquial way to express thirst in Cantonese. While written Chinese uses 口渴, speakers almost exclusively use 頸喝 in casual conversation. The character 頸 refers to the throat, emphasizing the physical sensation of dryness in the neck area.
Examples
I've been walking around all day, I'm so thirsty.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use the Mandarin 口渴, which sounds unnatural and overly formal in daily Hong Kong life. Stick to 頸喝 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
