seoi2 sing3水性
Jyutpingseoi2 sing3
Yaleséui sing
Definition
One's ability to swim, or the physical characteristics of a body of water.
- the ability to swim; swimming skills
- the physical characteristics of a body of water, such as its depth and flow
colloquialsportsbody
How it's used
Focuses specifically on a person's swimming ability or comfort level in water rather than the physical properties of a body of water. While it can technically refer to the characteristics of currents or depth in literary contexts, in daily speech it is almost exclusively used to describe how well someone can swim.
Examples
He learned to swim when he was young, so he is a very good swimmer.
Since you are such a good swimmer, why not go into the water and help find the wallet?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 水性 which often carries a negative connotation of being fickle or promiscuous. In Cantonese, it is a neutral or positive term regarding athletic skill.
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.
