sei2 fo2 saan1死火山
Jyutpingsei2 fo2 saan1
Yaleséi fó sāan
Definition
An extinct volcano; a volcano that has not erupted for a long time.
neutralnature
How it's used
Geologists generally avoid using this term because it is nearly impossible to prove a volcano will never erupt again. The distinction between active, dormant, and extinct is often arbitrary, as volcanic cycles can span hundreds of thousands of years. In casual conversation, people still use it to describe mountains that are clearly no longer active, but it carries a sense of geological finality that scientists find problematic.
Measure word
zo2座jóExamples
Do you know where there are any extinct volcanoes?
Related words
Common phrases
extinct volcanic landscape
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a mountain that has died, but it specifically refers to volcanic activity. Avoid using it to describe mountains that were never volcanoes in the first place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
