sok3 seoi2嗍水
Jyutpingsok3 seoi2
Yalesok séui
Definition
To absorb water.
colloquialdaily actionshome
How it's used
Used primarily to describe materials like sponges, towels, or fabrics that soak up liquid effectively. It carries a slightly informal tone and is often used in domestic settings when discussing cleaning or laundry. While it literally means to suck water, it is rarely used for the biological process of plants absorbing water.
Examples
This sponge absorbs water really well, it is great for wiping tables.
Your shirt is so absorbent, how are you going to dry it?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a person drinking water quickly, as that would be 飲水 or 鯨吞. It specifically refers to the physical property of an object soaking up moisture.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.



