sou3 maang4掃盲扫盲
Jyutpingsou3 maang4
Yalesou màahng
Definition
To educate, clarify, or eliminate ignorance to improve understanding and knowledge.
colloquialcommunicationother
How it's used
Originally referring to government campaigns to eradicate illiteracy, the term has evolved in modern slang to mean providing basic information or clearing up misconceptions about a specific topic. It carries a slightly playful or self-deprecating tone when used in casual conversation to ask for an explanation of something one is unfamiliar with. It is often used when someone feels out of the loop regarding current trends or technical jargon.
Examples
These misunderstandings really need to be cleared up.
Can you help clarify this for me and explain what it is?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with formal educational contexts, as it is now frequently used sarcastically or informally to mean explaining something simple that the speaker feels the listener should already know.
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.
