zeoi2 zoek3咀嚼
Jyutpingzeoi2 zoek3
Yalejéui jeuk
Definition
(verb) (formal) Masticate
neutralfooddaily actions
How it's used
While 咀嚼 is the standard term for chewing, it is often used metaphorically to mean contemplating or mulling over an idea or situation. In everyday casual speech, people frequently use 咬 or 咬碎 to describe the physical act of chewing food. Using 咀嚼 in a casual setting can make you sound slightly more formal or literary.
Examples
sik6 je5 jiu3 maan6 maan2 zeoi2 zoek3 m4 hou2 gam3 gap1
食嘢要慢慢咀嚼，唔好咁急。
You should chew slowly when eating, don't be so rushed.
Related words
Common phrases
zi2 sai3 zeoi2 zoek3
仔細咀嚼
chew carefully
zeoi2 zoek3 jan4 sang1
咀嚼人生
ponder the meaning of life
Common mistake
Do not confuse the physical act of chewing with the metaphorical sense of pondering. While 咀嚼 works for both, using it too often in casual conversation about food can sound stiff compared to the more common 咬.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- 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.
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
