saan3 seoi2散水
Jyutpingsaan3 seoi2
Yalesaan séui
Definition
To disperse, scatter, or flee rapidly in all directions.
colloquialdaily actionsslang
How it's used
Originally describing the way water spreads out when poured on the ground, this term has evolved into a common slang for leaving a scene, especially when avoiding trouble or authority. It carries a sense of urgency or suddenness, making it distinct from neutral words for leaving like 走. It is frequently used in the context of protests or illegal gatherings to signal that it is time to retreat to avoid detection.
Examples
The police are here, everyone scatter quickly!
The show is over, have the audience dispersed yet?
Related words
Common phrases
farewell treats
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 散水餅, which refers to the farewell treats an employee brings to the office on their last day of work. While both use the same characters, the latter is a specific cultural practice and does not imply fleeing or dispersing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
