sap1 hei3濕氣湿气
Jyutpingsap1 hei3
Yalesāp hei
Definition
Moisture, dampness, or humidity; in Chinese medicine, the concept of internal dampness in the body.
- dampness; moisture; humidity
- technicalinternal dampness, representing an excess of fluid due to poor circulation
colloquialhealthweather
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of humidity in the air, this term is a cornerstone of Cantonese health culture. It refers to a metabolic imbalance where the body struggles to process fluids, often blamed for lethargy, heavy limbs, or skin issues. People frequently discuss how to remove it through diet, such as drinking soups made with 薏米 or 赤小豆.
Examples
It has been raining a lot lately, and the house is very damp.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being wet or having water on your skin. It is an internal state of being, so you cannot 'dry' it off with a towel; it requires dietary changes or herbal medicine to address the underlying imbalance.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
