leoi4 se6鐳射镭射
Jyutpingleoi4 se6
Yalelèuih seh
Definition
Laser; a coherent, monochromatic beam of light emitted through stimulated atomic or molecular transitions.
colloquialtechnology
How it's used
Although 鐳射 is widely understood and used in Hong Kong, it is a direct phonetic loan from English. Many younger speakers or those in technical fields now prefer the term 雷射, which is more common in Taiwan and mainland China, or simply use the English word laser directly in conversation. It is common to see it used in product names or descriptions for office equipment.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
You are not allowed to use a laser gun to shine at people here.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Cantonese word 激光, which is the standard term used in mainland China and increasingly in Hong Kong for laser. While 鐳射 is perfectly acceptable, using 激光 might be preferred in formal or scientific contexts.
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.
