jing4瀠潆
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
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- How oftenUsually, sometimes, all the time, rarely, never. All five sit in one slot, between the subject and the verb.
- 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.
