kap1吸
Jyutpingkap1
Yalekāp
Definition
To inhale, suck in, absorb, or attract.
- to breathe in; to inhale; to suck in
- to absorb; to draw in liquid or gas
- to attract; to draw toward
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
While 吸 can mean to breathe or inhale, it is more commonly used in contexts involving physical suction or attraction, such as magnets or vacuum cleaners. When referring to the act of breathing, it is almost always paired with 氣 to form 吸氣. In daily life, it is frequently used to describe the action of absorbing something, whether it is liquid through a straw or a sponge soaking up water.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 吸 to mean smoking, but while 吸煙 is understood, locals overwhelmingly prefer the word 食 to describe the act of smoking cigarettes.
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.
- 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.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
