sau1 sap6收拾

Jyutpingsau1 sap6

Yalesāu sahp

動詞Common

Definition

To tidy up; to put in order or clean a place.

neutraldaily actionshome

How it's used

While standard in written Chinese, in spoken Cantonese, people frequently use 執 instead of 收拾 for everyday tidying tasks. Using 收拾 often carries a slightly more formal or emphatic tone, or it can imply a more thorough process of organizing things rather than just a quick clean up. It is also commonly used in the sense of settling a score or dealing with someone in a confrontational way.

Examples

nei5你faai3快di1啲sau1收sap6拾hou2好di1啲wun6玩geoi6具laa1啦。

Hurry up and tidy up your toys.

gaan3間fong2房lyun6亂dou3到gam3咁，gei2幾si4時sin1先sau1收sap6拾aa4呀？

The room is such a mess, when will you tidy it up?

Common phrases

sau1收sap6拾hang4行lei5李

to pack luggage

sau1收sap6拾caan4殘guk6局

to clean up the mess

Common mistake

Learners often use 收拾 for cleaning surfaces like tables or floors, but it specifically refers to organizing items or putting things back in their proper place. For cleaning dirt or spills, use 抹 or 清理 instead.