jin4 liu2燃料
Jyutpingjin4 liu2
Yaleyìhn líu
Definition
Fuel; substance that can be burned to release energy, such as wood, gasoline, or uranium.
neutraltransportother
How it's used
Refers primarily to substances used for energy production in industrial or technical contexts. While technically correct for any combustible material, it sounds formal and academic in daily life. Most people prefer specific terms like 油 for gasoline or 煤 for coal when speaking casually.
Examples
The car has run out of fuel, we need to refuel.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe food or snacks, even though they provide energy to the body. Using it for human nutrition sounds like a science fiction metaphor rather than natural speech.
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.
