tong3 saam1熨衫
Jyutpingtong3 saam1
Yaletong sāam
Definition
To iron clothes.
colloquialdaily actionshome
How it's used
This verb is a compound consisting of the action and the object, similar to 食飯. Because it is a verb phrase, you cannot place an object directly after it, so you must use a classifier or a specific item if you want to be precise, such as 熨件衫. It is strictly used for the act of pressing fabric with a heated iron.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 熨 as a standalone verb for any type of pressing, but it specifically refers to the heat treatment of clothing. Do not confuse it with pressing something flat with your hands or other objects.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
