nai4 saa1泥沙
Jyutpingnai4 saa1
Yalenàih sā
Definition
Silt; mud and sand.
colloquialnaturedaily actions
How it's used
Refers collectively to dirt, soil, and sand mixtures found on the ground or construction sites. It is frequently used in the idiomatic phrase 玩泥沙 to describe childish or trivial behavior, implying someone is wasting time on something insignificant.
Measure word
zaa6拃jahExamples
Children love playing with sand in the park.
The mud and sand here is very dirty, don't touch it.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 泥土, which specifically refers to soil or earth used for planting. 泥沙 implies a loose, gritty, or messy mixture rather than fertile ground.
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.
