hon4汗

Jyutpinghon4

Yalehòhn

Very common

Definition

Sweat; perspiration secreted through the pores of the skin.

colloquialbodyhealth

How it's used

Focus on the physical sensation of perspiration rather than the abstract concept. It is common to use the verb 流 before it to describe the act of sweating, or to say someone is 成身汗 when they are drenched. It is rarely used in formal or literary contexts in spoken Cantonese, where it remains a very grounded, bodily term.

Measure word

dik6滴dikh

Examples

paau2跑jyun4完bou6步seng4成san1身dou1都hai6係hon6汗aa4呀。

I am covered in sweat after running.

nei5你zou6做me1咩lau4流gam3咁do1多hon6汗㗎？

Why are you sweating so much?

Common phrases

mut3抹hon6汗

to wipe off sweat

seng4成san1身hon6汗

covered in sweat

Common mistake

Avoid using it as a verb directly in the same way as English. You must use the verb 流 before it, as in 流汗, rather than treating it as a standalone action.