to3唾
Jyutpingto3
Yaleto
Definition
Saliva, or to spit.
- saliva; spit
- to spit; to spit on
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How it's used
唾 is rarely used in modern spoken Cantonese, where the common term for saliva is 口水. Using 唾 often sounds formal, literary, or slightly clinical, similar to using the word 'expectorate' in English. It is mostly encountered in idioms or formal writing rather than daily conversation.
Examples
He was spitting saliva while he was talking.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 唾 as a verb, but in spoken Cantonese, the verb to spit is 吐口水. Using 唾 as a verb will sound unnatural or archaic to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
