wai4 taa1 ming6維他命维他命
Jyutpingwai4 taa1 ming6
Yalewàih tā mihng
Definition
Vitamin; essential organic nutrients that organisms need in small amounts for metabolism.
colloquialhealthfood
How it's used
People in Hong Kong almost exclusively use the loanword 維他命 instead of the formal term 維生素. It is common to hear people refer to specific supplements by their letter, such as 維他命C or 維他命B雜. While it is a health term, it is frequently used in casual conversation regarding diet and skincare.
Measure word
zung3種jungExamples
Do you take vitamins every day?
This vitamin is very good for the skin.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse the pronunciation of 維他命 with Mandarin, but in Cantonese, the final character 命 is pronounced with a distinct tone that sounds quite different from the Mandarin fourth tone.
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.
