paai4 wu1排污
Jyutpingpaai4 wu1
Yalepàaih wū
Definition
To drain away sewage.
neutralother
How it's used
Primarily used in formal or technical contexts regarding infrastructure and environmental management. While it refers to the act of discharging waste, it is almost exclusively paired with nouns like 系統 or 費 rather than used as a casual verb for everyday household plumbing. For common household issues like a blocked sink or toilet, locals prefer using terms like 塞咗 or 通渠.
Examples
The sewage system here is very old and often gets clogged.
How does the government handle industrial sewage discharge?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe the act of flushing a toilet or clearing a simple household drain, as it sounds overly clinical or governmental. Use 通渠 instead for domestic plumbing maintenance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
