sik1拭
Jyutpingsik1
Yalesīk
Definition
To wipe or brush away.
writtendaily actions
How it's used
While 拭 is a valid character for wiping, it is almost exclusively used in formal written contexts or specific idioms like 拭目以待. In everyday spoken Cantonese, 抹 is the standard and natural choice for any physical wiping action. Using 拭 in casual conversation will sound overly literary or like you are reading from a textbook.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 拭 with 抹 because they share the same meaning, but 拭 is not used in colloquial speech. Stick to 抹 for all daily situations to avoid sounding unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
