syun1 suk1酸宿
Jyutpingsyun1 suk1
Yalesyūn sūk
Definition
Sour smell, especially from spoiled or rancid food.
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How it's used
Describes the specific, unpleasant odor that develops when damp fabric or organic matter is left in a confined space without proper ventilation. It implies a combination of sourness and dampness, often associated with laundry that was not dried properly or food that has started to ferment in a bag. It is a very sensory, evocative term used primarily to describe things that have been neglected.
Examples
The shirt has been sitting for a long time and has a sour, musty smell.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general sour smells like vinegar or citrus, which are described as 酸味. 酸宿 specifically carries the connotation of decay, dampness, or lack of hygiene.
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.
