siu1消
Jyutpingsiu1
Yalesīu
Definition
To disappear, vanish, eliminate, or disperse.
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How it's used
Functions as a versatile verb for things fading away, such as swelling, anger, or even the effects of alcohol. It often appears in compounds like 消氣 or 消腫 to describe the process of returning to a normal state. Unlike the Mandarin usage, it is rarely used alone as a standalone verb in casual speech without a specific object or context.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to mean 'to spend' money, as that is expressed by 花錢 or 使錢 in Cantonese. Learners often confuse it with 消失, but 消 focuses on the process of reduction or dispersal, whereas 消失 implies the complete act of vanishing.
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.
