sing4 sik1成色
Jyutpingsing4 sik1
Yalesìhng sīk
Definition
The purity, quality, or components of gold, silver, or jewelry.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the purity or quality of precious metals like gold or silver. It is commonly used in traditional jewellery shops when discussing the value of items based on their gold content. You will often hear it in the context of checking if gold is genuine or how many karats it contains.
Examples
This gold bangle has a very high purity, it is worth buying.
Do you know where one can get the gold purity tested?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can metaphorically refer to the quality or character of a person or situation. In Cantonese, it is strictly reserved for the physical composition of precious metals.
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.
