sang3 bei6 tai3擤鼻涕
Jyutpingsang3 bei6 tai3
Yalesang beih tai
Definition
To blow one's nose; to force nasal mucus out of the nose.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This verb is specifically reserved for the action of clearing nasal mucus by force. It is considered somewhat impolite to do this loudly in public spaces, which is why the example sentences often focus on the noise level. While it is a standard verb, it is rarely used in formal written contexts where more clinical descriptions are preferred.
Examples
He is blowing his nose very loudly in the bathroom.
Can you be a bit quieter when you blow your nose?
Common phrases
after blowing one's nose
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 抹鼻涕, which means to wipe the nose with a tissue. Remember that 擤 refers to the forceful expulsion of mucus, whereas 抹 is simply the act of cleaning the exterior.
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.
