liu4燎
Jyutpingliu4
Yalelìuh
Definition
To burn, singe, or illuminate.
- to burn; to singe; to scorch
- to illuminate; to shine on
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
Primarily used to describe singeing or burning the surface of something, often accidentally. It implies a quick or superficial burn rather than a deep, destructive fire. In spoken Cantonese, it is frequently used with the particle 親 to indicate an accidental injury.
Examples
Be careful, don't burn your hands.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 燒, which is the general term for burning or cooking. 燎 specifically suggests a singeing effect on the surface or edges.
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.
