jing4

Jyutpingjing4
Yaleyìhng

Definition

To eddy or swirl around, especially of water.

writtennature

How it's used

This character is rarely used in modern spoken Cantonese and is mostly restricted to formal or literary descriptions of water movement. In daily life, native speakers would almost always use the verb 轉 to describe swirling or circular motion. Using this character in casual conversation will likely sound overly poetic or archaic to most listeners.

Examples

The water is swirling there, it looks like something is underneath.

Related words

Common phrases

eddying and swirling

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is highly specialized and literary. It is not used for general circular movement like a person spinning or a car turning.

Grammar color guide

Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector