gon1 cou3乾燥干燥
Jyutpinggon1 cou3
Yalegōn chou
Definition
Dry, arid, or having low humidity.
neutralweatherhealth
How it's used
While often used for weather, this word is equally common when describing physical sensations like dry skin, dry lips, or a dry throat. It carries a slightly more formal or clinical tone than simply saying the air or skin is 'not wet' or 'thirsty'. When discussing the weather, it is frequently paired with humidity levels or the lack of rainfall.
Examples
The weather has been very dry lately, remember to apply more moisturizer.
Your throat feels dry, is it because you are drinking too little water?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe things that are 'dried out' through a process like dehydration or cooking, such as dried fruit or dried seafood, where words like 乾 or 乾身 are more appropriate.
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.
