teoi3 ciu4退潮
Jyutpingteoi3 ciu4
Yaleteui chìuh
Definition
The ebbing of a tide; to ebb, or figuratively to retreat in trend.
- to ebb; low tide; sea level to fall
- figurativeto retreat or decline in trend or situation
neutralnaturedescriptions
How it's used
Beyond the literal ocean tide, this term is frequently used in business or social contexts to describe a decline in popularity or a cooling down of a market trend. It carries a sense of inevitability, suggesting that the peak has passed and things are returning to a baseline state. When used metaphorically, it often pairs with nouns like 熱潮 or 浪潮 to signal the end of a hype cycle.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
the hype dies down
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 潮退, which is a common synonym but often used more as a noun or a state of being. While they are interchangeable in many contexts, 退潮 emphasizes the action of receding, whereas 潮退 can feel more like a description of the state itself.
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.
