to3 jik6唾液
Jyutpingto3 jik6
Yaleto yihk
Definition
Saliva or spittle.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
唾液 is the formal, scientific term for saliva, typically found in medical contexts or written reports. In daily life, Cantonese speakers exclusively use 口水 to refer to saliva. Using 唾液 in casual conversation sounds overly clinical or stiff, similar to using 'saliva' instead of 'spit' in a very informal setting.
Measure word
daam6啖damhRelated words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 唾液 in everyday speech because they encounter it in formal dictionaries. Always stick to 口水 for normal social interactions to avoid sounding unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
