zam3浸
Jyutpingzam3
Yalejam
Definition
To submerge, soak, flood, or immerse in liquid.
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How it's used
Beyond literal flooding, this verb is frequently used for soaking items like clothes or vegetables in water to clean or soften them. It carries a sense of being submerged or surrounded by liquid for a duration. When used with 浸親, it specifically refers to the unfortunate event of someone nearly drowning or getting water in their lungs.
Examples
The water has flooded the whole house, what should we do?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 淹 which is rarely used in spoken Cantonese for flooding. Also, note that 浸 is strictly for liquids; you cannot use it for being surrounded by other things like crowds or dust.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
