hei1 bok6稀薄
Jyutpinghei1 bok6
Yalehēi bohk
Definition
Thin or sparse; having low density or oxygen content.
- thin; having low oxygen content (of air)
- thin; rare; diluted (of liquids or gases)
neutralnaturehealth
How it's used
Primarily used in formal or scientific contexts to describe atmospheric conditions or gas density. While it is understood in spoken Cantonese, it sounds quite academic or literary, so it is rarely used in casual small talk unless discussing geography or mountain climbing.
Examples
The air is thin up on the mountain, I feel out of breath just walking.
Do you know why the air is thin in high-altitude places?
Related words
Common phrases
thin air
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
