zau2 zing1酒精
Jyutpingzau2 zing1
Yalejáu jīng
Definition
Alcohol or ethanol; the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors.
- ethanol, the main component in alcoholic drinks
- technicalalcohol in a chemical sense, including methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol
neutralfoodhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the chemical substance found in beverages or used for cleaning, rather than the act of drinking itself. While it is the scientific term for ethanol, it is frequently used in everyday contexts when discussing health, safety, or the composition of household products. It is distinct from the general concept of drinking, which is usually expressed using the character 酒.
Examples
This bottle of disinfectant contains alcohol.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe the act of drinking alcohol socially, as it sounds overly clinical or chemical. Use the word 酒 instead when talking about having a drink or being drunk.
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.
