seoi2 sau2水手
Jyutpingseoi2 sau2
Yaleséui sáu
Definition
Sailor, seaman, or mariner, typically referring to junior crew members on a ship.
neutralpeopletransport
How it's used
Refers specifically to deckhands or crew members performing manual labor on a vessel. It carries a slightly more rugged or blue collar connotation compared to terms for officers or captains. It is rarely used to describe someone who simply enjoys sailing as a hobby.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
His childhood dream was to be a sailor.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 船長, which refers to the captain, or 船員, which is a broader term that can include anyone working on a ship from the captain down to the kitchen staff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
