hau2 seoi2口水

Jyutpinghau2 seoi2

Yaleháu séui

名詞Common

Definition

Saliva, or spit; the clear liquid secreted by salivary glands to aid in digestion.

colloquialbodycommunication

How it's used

Beyond the literal meaning of saliva, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe excessive or tiresome talking. When someone is described as having a lot of口水, it implies they are long-winded or prone to nagging. It is common to hear people complain about wasting their own口水 when they feel their advice is being ignored.

Measure word

daam6啖damh

Examples

gin3見dou2到di1啲mei5美sik6食，ngo5我zik1即hak1刻lau4流saai3晒hau2口seoi2水。

Seeing the delicious food, I started drooling immediately.

keoi5佢gong2講je5嘢zan1真hai6係hou2好do1多hau2口seoi2水，gong2講gik6極dou1都m4唔ting4停。

He really talks too much, he just won't stop.

Common phrases

lau4流hau2口seoi2水

to drool

hau2口seoi2水do1多

talkative

Common mistake

Do not use this word to refer to the act of spitting, which is 吐痰. While learners might confuse the two,口水 is specifically the liquid itself, whereas 吐痰 refers to the act of expelling phlegm or saliva from the throat.