taai3汰

Jyutpingtaai3

Yaletaai

語素Rare

Definition

To discard or eliminate things of lesser value.

neutraldaily actions

How it's used

This character is rarely used as a standalone verb in modern spoken Cantonese, almost always appearing as part of a compound word like 淘汰. It carries a sense of active removal or filtering out based on quality or relevance. When used in speech, it often implies a systematic process rather than just throwing something in the trash.

Examples

ni1呢di1啲gau6舊fun2款din6電waa2話ji5已ging1經bei2畀jan4人taai3汰zau2走zo2咗laa3喇。

These old model phones have already been discarded.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得keoi5佢wui2會m4唔wui2會taai3汰zau2走go2嗰di1啲m4唔hap6合gaak3格koi3嘅caan2產ban2品？

Do you think he will discard those unqualified products?

Common phrases

taai3汰joek6弱lau4留koeng4強

survival of the fittest

taai3汰gau6舊wun6換san1新

replace the old with the new

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 淘, which is used in 淘寶. Remember that 汰 relates to selection and elimination, whereas 淘 is associated with washing or searching through things.