sik1釋释
Jyutpingsik1
Yalesīk
Definition
To release, set free, or untie.
writtenother
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in formal or legal compounds rather than as a standalone verb in daily speech. You will encounter it most frequently in news reports or official documents regarding judicial or administrative actions. For everyday contexts involving letting someone go or setting something free, native speakers almost exclusively use 放 or 放走.
Examples
He has finally been released after finishing his prison sentence.
The police released that suspect.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not attempt to use this as a standalone verb in casual conversation, as it sounds overly literary or stiff. Using it to mean 'to let go' of a physical object will cause confusion, as it lacks the physical sense of release found in the word 放.
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.
