nai4 seoi2泥水
Jyutpingnai4 seoi2
Yalenàih séui
Definition
Muddy water, or the construction trade involving masonry, plastering, and tiling.
- muddy water
- masonry and plastering; a construction trade involving bricklaying and tiling
colloquialworkhome
How it's used
Refers both to the literal mixture of dirt and water and to the professional trade of masonry. In the context of construction, it is one of the traditional trades known as 三行, focusing on wet work like tiling and plastering. People often refer to the tradesperson performing these tasks as 泥水佬.
Examples
We need to find a contractor for the masonry work during the home renovation.
After the heavy rain, the road is full of muddy water.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the literal meaning of muddy water with the professional trade, as the context usually makes it clear which one is intended. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it to describe general construction work, but it specifically refers to the wet, cement-based aspects of the job.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
