piu1嘌
Jyutpingpiu1
Yalepīu
Definition
To move swiftly or blow in the wind; or used as a phonetic component for purine in chemistry.
- literaryfast; swift; blowing about
- technicalpurine
neutralhealthfood
How it's used
The character 嘌 is almost exclusively used in the scientific context of purine, a chemical compound found in many foods. It is a loan-based term that does not carry the meaning of fast in modern spoken Cantonese, as that sense is archaic or restricted to specific literary contexts. Most speakers only encounter this word when discussing health, specifically gout or dietary restrictions.
Examples
These foods are very high in purine, don't eat too much.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 飄, which means to float or drift. Learners often mistake the two because they share a similar phonetic component, but they are unrelated in meaning and usage.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
