hek3 jin1吃煙吃烟
Jyutpinghek3 jin1
Yalehek yīn
Definition
To smoke cigarettes
colloquialdaily actionshealth
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 食煙 instead of the literal translation 吃煙. While 吃 is common in Mandarin, it sounds unnatural or overly formal in Cantonese when referring to smoking. The verb 食 is the standard way to express the act of consuming anything, including cigarettes.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 吃 because they see it in written Chinese, but using it in spoken Cantonese will sound very strange to locals. Always stick to 食 when talking about smoking or eating.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
