haam4 seoi2鹹水咸水
Jyutpinghaam4 seoi2
Yalehàahm séui
Definition
Salt water or sea water, as opposed to fresh water.
colloquialnature
How it's used
Refers specifically to the salinity of water, making it the direct opposite of 淡水. It is frequently used as a modifier to distinguish marine species or environments from freshwater ones. Beyond literal water, it can metaphorically describe the experience of living or studying abroad, often referred to as 浸鹹水.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the adjective 鹹, which describes the taste of salt or, colloquially, someone who is lecherous or perverted.
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.
