kat1 seoi2咳水
Jyutpingkat1 seoi2
Yalekāt séui
Definition
Cough syrup; liquid medicine used to relieve coughing.
colloquialhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to liquid cough medicine, often implying the kind that contains codeine or other sedatives. It is common to hear people describe the taste as very sweet or medicinal. Because of the potential for abuse, pharmacists in Hong Kong are required to record the sale of products containing codeine.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
You are coughing so badly, drink some cough syrup.
Is this cough syrup prescribed by a doctor?
Related words
Common phrases
to drink cough syrup
doctor prescribes cough syrup
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 咳藥丸 which refers to cough tablets. Using 咳水 to refer to any form of cough medicine is technically inaccurate, as it specifically denotes the liquid form.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
