zoek3酌
Jyutpingzoek3
Yalejeuk
Definition
To drink alcohol.
colloquialdrink
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts, or as part of set phrases like 小酌. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people prefer using 飲酒 or 飲番杯 instead of using 酌 as a standalone verb. It carries a slightly refined or elegant nuance, often implying a social or leisurely drinking setting rather than heavy intoxication.
Examples
Let's go for a couple of drinks tonight.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word as a general verb for drinking liquids like water or tea, as it specifically refers to the consumption of alcohol. Using it in a casual sentence without the context of a social gathering can sound overly dramatic or archaic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
