haai1揩
Jyutpinghaai1
Yalehāai
Definition
To accidentally smear or be daubed with liquid, or to scrape past and make light contact.
- to accidentally smear, soil, or get daubed with liquid
- to scrape past, brush against, or make light contact with something
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Used primarily when something accidentally comes into contact with a surface, often resulting in a stain or a transfer of substance. It implies a lack of intention, highlighting the sudden or careless nature of the contact. While it can refer to physical smearing, it is frequently used for minor, incidental brushes against objects or people.
Examples
You got some oil on your shirt, wipe it off quickly.
I accidentally brushed against someone's bag on the MTR earlier, so embarrassing.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 抹, which means to wipe or clean. 揩 describes the act of getting something dirty or making contact, whereas 抹 describes the subsequent action of removing the mess.
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.
