zung1 sin3中線中线
Jyutpingzung1 sin3
Yalejūng sin
Definition
Neutral wire in electrical systems, or the middle lane of a highway.
- neutral wire in electrical wiring
- middle lane of a highway
neutraltransporthome
How it's used
Distinguishing between electrical and traffic contexts is essential because the term is a homonym. In electrical work, it is synonymous with 零線, whereas in driving, it refers specifically to the lane between the fast and slow lanes. Note that in Hong Kong driving culture, staying in the middle lane unnecessarily is often seen as poor etiquette.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
The neutral wire seems broken, there is no electricity at home.
When you are driving, do not hog the middle lane for too long.
Related words
Common phrases
driving in the middle lane
connecting the neutral wire
Common mistake
Do not confuse 中線 with 雙黃線, which refers to double yellow lines on the road indicating no parking, rather than a lane for driving.
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.
