mou4 gei1無機无机
Jyutpingmou4 gei1
Yalemòuh gēi
Definition
Inorganic; relating to chemistry that excludes carbon compounds, with some exceptions.
neutralschool
How it's used
Academic terminology like this is almost exclusively used in formal educational or scientific contexts in Hong Kong. While the term covers substances lacking carbon-hydrogen bonds, it is important to remember that simple carbon compounds like carbon dioxide are still classified as inorganic. It functions primarily as a modifier for nouns like 化學 or 化合物.
Examples
This experiment is about inorganic chemistry.
Do you know which substances belong to inorganic matter?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly assume that any compound containing carbon is organic, but simple carbon-based substances like carbonates and cyanides are exceptions that fall under the inorganic category.
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.
