hon4 tin1寒天
Jyutpinghon4 tin1
Yalehòhn tīn
Definition
Cold weather, or agar-agar jelly.
- cold weather
- technicalagar; a gelatinous substance extracted from seaweed used in food processing
colloquialweatherfood
How it's used
While 寒天 can refer to cold weather, it is frequently used in Hong Kong to refer to agar, a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed. When used in the context of weather, it carries a slightly literary or dramatic tone compared to the common phrase 天氣凍. You will often hear it used in food contexts, such as in desserts or bubble tea toppings.
Examples
It is so cold lately, remember to wear an extra layer.
Drinking a cup of hot tea in cold weather is really comfortable.
Related words
Common phrases
a freezing cold, snow-covered landscape
Common mistake
Do not confuse the weather meaning with the food ingredient meaning, as they are homonyms. If you are talking about the weather, ensure the context clearly points to temperature rather than a dessert topping.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
