jau4 cat1油漆

Jyutpingjau4 cat1

Yaleyàuh chāt

名詞Uncommon

Definition

Paint; a colored liquid applied to surfaces for decoration, design, or protection.

colloquialhomedaily actions

How it's used

While 油漆 acts as a noun referring to the substance itself, it is also frequently used as a verb meaning to apply paint. When referring to the act of painting a wall or room, people often use the verb 油 instead of the full noun. It carries a sense of professional or home renovation work rather than artistic painting, which would be 畫畫.

Measure word

gun3罐gun

Examples

gaan3間fong2房ngaam1啱ngaam1啱jau4油cat1漆zo2咗，hou2好daai6大zan6陣mei2味aa4呀。

The room was just painted, it smells really strong.

nei5你nam2諗zyu6住wan2搵bin1邊go3個si1師fu2傅bong1幫nei5你jau4油cat1漆aa4呀？

Which worker are you planning to hire to do the painting for you?

Common phrases

jau4油cat1漆mei6未gon1乾

wet paint

jau4油cat1漆si1師fu2傅

painter

Common mistake

Learners often confuse 油漆 with 顏料, but 顏料 is specifically for art supplies like watercolors or acrylics used for painting pictures, whereas 油漆 is strictly for surfaces like walls, furniture, or metal.