jit6 seng1熱腥热腥
Jyutpingjit6 seng1
Yaleyiht sēng
Definition
The damp, humid smell after rainfall in the summer.
colloquialweatherdescriptions
How it's used
Describes the specific, heavy, and slightly unpleasant odor that rises from the ground when hot sun hits wet pavement or soil. It captures the sensory experience of Hong Kong's intense summer humidity rather than just the weather itself. Use this to describe the atmosphere immediately following a sudden tropical downpour.
Examples
The air smells so humid and damp after the rain.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general humidity or the smell of rain itself. It specifically refers to the muggy, earthy, and slightly pungent smell caused by heat interacting with moisture.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
