lit6 zau2烈酒
Jyutpinglit6 zau2
Yaleliht jáu
Definition
Liquor or spirits; high-proof alcoholic beverages that have undergone distillation.
neutraldrink
How it's used
Refers specifically to distilled spirits with high alcohol content, distinguishing them from fermented beverages like beer or wine. It is a formal category term often used in retail, bar menus, or health contexts rather than in casual conversation about having a drink. When ordering at a bar, people usually specify the type of spirit, such as 威士忌 or 氈酒, instead of using this general term.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
He drank a lot of strong spirits and was too drunk to stand.
Do you sell any strong spirits here?
Related words
Common phrases
spirits category
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe beer or wine, even if they are strong, as the term implies the distillation process. It is a classification of alcohol type, not a description of how drunk someone is.
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.
