lau4溜
Jyutpinglau4
Yalelàuh
Definition
To slide or glide.
colloquialdaily actionssports
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of gliding or sliding, this word is frequently used in the context of slipping on a wet or oily surface. It carries a sense of losing one's footing due to a lack of friction. When used as a verb for movement, it often implies a smooth or effortless motion across a surface.
Examples
He really likes going to the ice rink to skate.
The floor is very wet, be careful not to slip.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 跣, which is the more common colloquial verb for slipping or sliding on a surface. While 溜 is standard for activities like ice skating, 跣 is preferred when someone accidentally loses their balance on a slippery floor.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
