jau1 fui1 seoi2髹灰水
Jyutpingjau1 fui1 seoi2
Yaleyāu fūi séui
Definition
To whitewash; to paint a wall or room with whitewash.
colloquialhomedaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the process of applying a thin layer of lime or plaster mixture to walls to create a smooth, white surface. While modern paints are more common now, the term remains the standard way to describe the act of painting or refreshing walls in a home renovation context. It carries a slightly traditional or manual labor feel compared to the more generic term 髹油.
Examples
The room is old, I want to find someone to help whitewash it.
When are you free to come over and help me whitewash?
Related words
Common phrases
hire someone to whitewash
whitewash by oneself
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply painting a wall a different color, as 髹灰水 specifically implies the application of a white lime-based coating. If you are just applying standard colored paint, use 髹油 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
