haam4 cau3鹹臭
Jyutpinghaam4 cau3
Yalehàahm chau
Definition
Dirty and smelly.
colloquialdescriptionsbody
How it's used
This term specifically describes a pungent, damp, or musty odor often associated with sweat-soaked clothing or unwashed fabric. It carries a stronger, more visceral connotation than simply saying something is smelly. It is frequently used to describe the lingering scent of clothes that have been left in a pile while still damp.
Examples
This shirt has been sitting for a long time, it's dirty and stinky.
Related words
Common phrases
a dirty and stinky smell
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe food that has gone bad or spoiled; for food, use 臭 or 變壞 instead. 鹹臭 is strictly reserved for smells related to body odor or unhygienic fabric.
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.
