sau3漱
Jyutpingsau3
Yalesau
Definition
To rinse one's mouth with water; to wash.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
The character 漱 is almost exclusively used in the compound 漱口. While it can technically mean to wash or rinse in a literary sense, in modern spoken Cantonese, it is rarely used as a standalone verb outside of this specific dental hygiene context.
Examples
Remember to rinse your mouth after eating.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 漱口 with 刷牙, which means to brush teeth. Make sure to distinguish between rinsing with water and the mechanical action of using a toothbrush.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
