ngaa4 sin3牙線牙线
Jyutpingngaa4 sin3
Yalengàh sin
Definition
Dental floss; thread used to clean teeth and remove plaque from between them.
colloquialhealthbody
How it's used
Using dental floss is a daily habit for many in Hong Kong, and the word is often used in the context of dental hygiene advice. While it is a standard noun, you will frequently hear people pair it with the verb 撩, which specifically describes the action of picking or dislodging food particles from between the teeth.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Remember to use dental floss after you finish eating.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse the verb 撩 with 挖, but 撩 is the more natural choice when talking about removing debris from tight spaces like between teeth.
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.
