tai3嚏
Jyutpingtai3
Yaletai
Definition
To sneeze.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
The character 嚏 is almost exclusively used in the compound verb 打嚏. While the character itself represents the act of sneezing, you will rarely see it standing alone in spoken Cantonese. It is standard to use the full verb phrase to describe the physiological action.
Examples
Do you have a cold? Why are you sneezing so much?
He sneezes immediately whenever he smells pepper.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 嚏 as a standalone verb, but it must be paired with 打 to form the complete action. Do not confuse this with 噴嚏, which is the noun form used more commonly in written Chinese or Mandarin contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
