tong1 lik6 seoi2湯力水汤力水
Jyutpingtong1 lik6 seoi2
Yaletōng lihk séui
Definition
Tonic water.
colloquialdrink
How it's used
Often confused with soda water or sparkling water by those unfamiliar with the bitter profile of quinine. It is almost exclusively used as a mixer in Hong Kong bars rather than consumed on its own, primarily because of its distinct medicinal aftertaste. The name itself is a direct phonetic loan from English, reflecting the colonial influence on local bar culture.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
This cocktail has a lot of tonic water added.
Do you like drinking tonic water or soda water?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not mistake it for plain sparkling water, as the quinine content gives it a bitter flavor that can ruin a drink if you were expecting a neutral, bubbly mixer.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
