saan2 sat1散失
Jyutpingsaan2 sat1
Yalesáan sāt
Definition
To become scattered and lost, or to dissipate.
- literaryto be dispersed and lost
- technicalto dissipate or be lost to the surroundings, as in energy transfer
writtenother
How it's used
This word is primarily found in formal writing or academic contexts rather than everyday speech. It carries a sense of gradual disappearance or scattering over time, often used for abstract things like knowledge, culture, or energy. When speaking casually, people usually prefer simpler alternatives like 唔見咗 or 走失.
Examples
Many precious historical documents have been lost.
Why do you think those memories would be lost?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for losing physical objects like keys or wallets, but it is too formal and abstract for that. Use 唔見咗 for everyday lost items instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
