mai5渳
Jyutpingmai5
Yalemáih
Definition
To sip; to drink in small mouthfuls.
colloquialdrinkdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the delicate, small-volume nature of the action, often implying a sense of leisure or careful tasting. It is distinct from 飲, which is a general term for drinking, and 灌, which implies gulping or drinking quickly. You will most often hear it used in the context of hot beverages like tea or coffee where the temperature requires a slow, cautious approach.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word for drinking water or juice when you are thirsty, as it implies a slow, savoring action rather than quenching thirst. It is strictly for small, deliberate amounts.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
