seoi2 sai3水勢水势
Jyutpingseoi2 sai3
Yaleséui sai
Definition
The force, momentum, or flow of water.
colloquialnatureother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the strength or intensity of a water current rather than just the state of the tide. It is frequently used by people near the coast or those involved in water sports to warn about safety conditions. While it describes the movement of water, it is not used to describe the water level itself.
Examples
The water current is very strong today, don't go into the water.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 潮漲 or 潮退, which refer to the rising or falling of the tide. Remember that this focuses on the speed and force of the flow, not the height of the water.
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.
