hyut3 cing1 sou3血清素
Jyutpinghyut3 cing1 sou3
Yalehyut chīng sou
Definition
Serotonin, or a class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants.
- serotonin; a neurotransmitter synthesized from tryptophan
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); a type of antidepressant
neutralhealth
How it's used
People often use this term colloquially to refer to antidepressants in general, specifically SSRIs. It is common to hear someone say they are taking blood serum medicine when they mean they are on a prescription for depression or anxiety. While scientifically precise, the term has entered everyday speech as a shorthand for mental health treatment.
Examples
The doctor said I don't have enough serotonin and need to take medication.
Is this medication specifically for regulating serotonin?
Related words
Common phrases
serotonin deficiency
increase serotonin levels
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal blood component serum, which is 血清. Learners might mistakenly think the term refers to a blood test result rather than a neurotransmitter or a class of psychiatric medication.
Grammar color guide
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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).
