tou3 taam4吐痰
Jyutpingtou3 taam4
Yaletou tàahm
Definition
To spit or expectorate phlegm.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Spitting in public is widely considered uncivilized and unhygienic in Hong Kong, making this a strong, negative term. While the formal term is used in signs or warnings, people often use the more colloquial phrase 噴口水 when describing the act of spitting saliva while talking or arguing.
Examples
Don't spit here.
Why is he spitting everywhere, so lacking in public morality?
Common phrases
spitting everywhere on the street
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 噴口水, which refers to spraying saliva while speaking excitedly or shouting, rather than the deliberate act of clearing phlegm from the throat.
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.
