hei1 so1稀疏
Jyutpinghei1 so1
Yalehēi sō
Definition
Sparse; scattered; low in density or few in number.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the physical distribution or density of objects rather than just a low quantity. While it describes thinning hair or sparse vegetation, it sounds slightly more formal or descriptive than everyday conversational Cantonese. People often use simpler alternatives like 疏 or 唔多 when talking casually about things being spread out.
Examples
His hair is very thin on top.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 疏忽, which means negligent or careless. Also, avoid using it to describe a small number of people in a room, as 稀疏 specifically implies a lack of density across a space rather than just a low headcount.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
