熱水
yit6 seoi2
The Cantonese phrase for "hot water" is 熱水 (yit6 seoi2).
熱水 is the standard term used to describe water that is hot.
Meaning: hot water (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 熱 (yit6), meaning 'hot' and 水 (seoi2), meaning 'water'.
Which one should you use?
While 熱水 refers generally to hot water, the term 滾水 (gyun2 seoi2) is used specifically for water that is boiling or at a much higher temperature.
How do you pronounce it?
yit6 seoi2
When do people say it?
In Cantonese culture, drinking hot or warm water is a common health practice, so you may frequently ask for 熱水 in homes or restaurants.
Did you know?
- The character 熱 in 熱水 is the same character used to describe 'passion' or 'enthusiasm' in a person, linking the physical sensation of heat to emotional intensity.
- The concept of 熱水 is linked to the Traditional Chinese Medicine belief that cold drinks shock the stomach and disrupt the body's internal balance.
- Adding the character 滾 (gyun2) to 水 creates 滾水, which literally describes water that is 'rolling', mimicking the visual movement of a boiling pot.
Examples in context
- 無熱水噃。There's no hot water.This sentence is useful for stating that there is no 熱水 available.Tatoeba #12276061 by thesilhouette, translation #2217696 by Hybrid
- 我想飲熱水。ngo5 soeng2 jam2 jit6 seoi2.I want to drink hot water.
Example conversation
Ka欣 is feeling cold and asks 家明 for a drink.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan家明，你可以幫我倒杯熱水嗎？ga1 ming4, nei5 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dou3 bui1 jit6 seoi2 maa1?Ka Ming, can you help me pour a cup of hot water?
- 家明 Ka Ming好啊，等我一陣。hou2 aa, dang2 ngo5 jat1 zan6.Sure, give me a moment.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan多謝你。do1 ze6 nei5.Thank you.
- 家明 Ka Ming唔使客氣，熱水喺呢度。m4 sai2 haak3 hei3, jit6 seoi2 hai2 ni1 dou6.You're welcome, the hot water is here.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
