tou1滔
Jyutpingtou1
Yaletōu
Definition
To overflow or pour out; to be filled with.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in colloquial Cantonese to describe a container or space that is filled to the point of overflowing or being completely saturated. It carries a sense of excess that goes beyond just being full, often implying that the contents are about to spill over or are overwhelming the capacity of the object.
Examples
Her heart is overflowing with tears, she seems very sad.
The cup is filled to the brim and spilling, be careful.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the formal literary term 滔滔 which is usually reserved for describing the continuous flow of water or speech, whereas this colloquial usage focuses on the state of being filled to the brim.
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.
