seoi2 zan3水圳
Jyutpingseoi2 zan3
Yaleséui jan
Definition
Drainage channel, ditch, or nullah.
colloquialplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to an open drainage channel or a concrete-lined stream often found in urban or suburban areas of Hong Kong. It is a functional term used to describe infrastructure for flood prevention and water runoff rather than a natural river or stream. You will frequently hear it used when discussing local flooding or environmental maintenance.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 河, which refers to a natural river. Using 水圳 to describe a scenic, natural river sounds unnatural and suggests a man-made, utilitarian structure instead.
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.
