gik1 lau4激流
Jyutpinggik1 lau4
Yalegīk làuh
Definition
A strong, turbulent water current, or the sport of white water rafting.
- strong, turbulent, and unpredictable water current; rapids
- white water rafting or canoeing
colloquialnaturesports
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of turbulent water, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe volatile situations or fast-changing environments. It carries a sense of danger and lack of control, often used when discussing intense competition or unpredictable social shifts.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
The currents in this river are very strong, don't go swimming.
Are you brave enough to go white water rafting?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 湍流, which is a technical term used in physics or engineering to describe fluid dynamics, whereas 激流 is used in everyday conversation and sports contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
