haam4 haam2 dei2鹹鹹地咸咸地
Jyutpinghaam4 haam2 dei2
Yalehàahm háam déi
Definition
Slightly salty; a little salty in taste.
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Adding the reduplication plus the suffix 地 creates a softening effect, turning a direct adjective into a more nuanced observation. It is frequently used when providing feedback on food or describing a subtle sensation without being overly critical. Using this structure allows speakers to express a mild opinion that sounds less like a blunt complaint.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this structure for adjectives that describe absolute states, such as 乾 (dry) or 濕 (wet), as they do not typically take the reduplication pattern in the same way. It is primarily used for sensory experiences like taste, temperature, or color.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
