jat6溢
Jyutpingjat6
Yaleyaht
Definition
To overflow or spill over; liquid filling a container and running out.
writtendaily actionsother
How it's used
溢 is primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe liquids spilling over a container. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 瀉 or 滿瀉 to describe this action. Using 溢 in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or like you are reading from a textbook.
Examples
The water in the cup is about to overflow.
You poured so much soup, be careful it doesn't spill everywhere.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 溢 for a general verb for spilling, but it specifically implies the container is full and the liquid is rising over the edge. For accidental spills where a container is knocked over, use 倒瀉 instead.
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.
