sik1淅
Jyutpingsik1
Yalesīk
Definition
The sound of rain, sleet, or wind, or water used to wash rice.
- figurativesound of rain, sleet, wind, and similar natural elements
- water used to wash rice
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the act of rinsing rice in water before cooking. While the character appears in literary descriptions of rain, it is almost exclusively used as a verb for preparing rice in daily life. It implies a quick, repetitive motion of swirling the grains in water and draining it.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 洗, which is the general verb for washing hands, clothes, or dishes. Using 淅 for anything other than rice will sound very strange to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
