sik1 seoi2色水
Jyutpingsik1 seoi2
Yalesīk séui
Definition
The colour of an object, especially its shade or tone.
colloquialdescriptionsclothing
How it's used
Refers specifically to the quality, vibrancy, or shade of a colour rather than just the colour itself. It is frequently used when discussing how a colour holds up over time, such as whether it fades after washing or looks dull. You will often hear it used in the context of clothing, fabrics, or even food and drinks where the visual appearance is important.
Examples
The colour of this shirt is really nice, where did you buy it?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a person's skin tone or complexion, as it sounds unnatural and potentially rude. It is strictly for inanimate objects.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
