haap3呷
Jyutpinghaap3
Yalehaap
Definition
To sip or take a small drink.
colloquialdrink
How it's used
This verb specifically describes the act of taking a very small amount of liquid into the mouth, often to savor the flavor or temperature. It is much more precise than the general word 飲, which simply means to drink. You will often hear it used in the context of tea culture or when someone is testing a hot beverage.
Examples
He really likes to sip his tea slowly.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this word for drinking large quantities of water or gulping down a drink, but it is strictly for small, deliberate sips.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
