saan1刪删
Jyutpingsaan1
Yalesāan
Definition
To delete or remove text, files, or records.
colloquialtechnologydaily actions
How it's used
While 刪 is the root character for deleting, it is rarely used alone in daily speech. It is almost always paired with 除 to form 刪除, which sounds much more natural and complete in a sentence. Using 刪 by itself can sound overly abrupt or literary, similar to how one might avoid using single-character verbs in other contexts.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 刪 as a direct translation for removing physical objects, but it is strictly reserved for digital files, text, or abstract records. Use 掉 or 攞走 for physical items instead.
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.
