What's New?
4th February
Happy Chinese New Year to all, especially my fellow Rabbits! :-)
CantoDict 1.4.2 has now been released.
More information
3rd December 2010
Well 2010 was a year plagued by server issues to be honest. This site has become increasibly busy, with some months seeing over 3 million page views.
This all took a toll on the old hardware, and I had to spend far too much time fixing database crashes etc in the background.
The good news is that about a month ago I invested in a much more powerful server, so hopefully this will keep the site stable for the forseeable future.
The new server costs about twice as much as the old one though, so a Big Thank You to the users who noticed the announcements about the changes on the forums and donated.
With advertising revenue, flashcard sales and donations the site is at present just about breaking even, so your support really is appreciated.
For new users who haven't read about the benefits of donating, please click this link:
/\dam
Last 10 posts in our forums:
Re: Jyut ping mistake for 語 13:08 by Eldon
[+-]Corrected, thanks for pointing it out!
example sentence - fragment? 13:07 by Eldon
[+-][
www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk]
畀架車瀄到成身泥
Is this just a fragment of a sentence? Does it need a subject? (我地?) And should the English translation be past tense? Or do I have some serious re-learning to do?

Re: 濺: zin1? zin3? cin2? 13:03 by Eldon
[+-]Quote
C Chiu
CUHK gives two readings for this character:
zin1: 濺濺 即「淺淺」的意思
zin3: 飛濺, 水花四濺
After conducting some research in a public library, I find out that almost all Canto dictionaries have listed both ‘zin3’ and ‘zin1’ for 濺.
The principal reading is, of course, ‘zin3’ which means “to splash, spatter, spill” as recorded in CantoDict.
The secondary reading is ‘zin1’ which can be used only in the term 濺濺, meaning the “gurgle, murmur, babble” sound of flowing water.
One dictionary says that 濺濺 is an archaic term which has now been replaced by 淺淺. Two dictionaries say that 濺濺 can be used only in literary context. Still two others use verses in Tang poems as example sentences.
Perhaps we could reinstate the reading ‘zin1’ in CantoDict although 濺濺 is rarely used in the present day.
I've also been corrected by someone who says it's cin2 for the second meaning.
Cannot find an alternative reading of ‘cin2’ in any Canto dictionary.
However, literary sounds of non-aspirated initials b/d/g/gw/z can often be matched with colloquial sounds of aspirated initials p/t/k/kw/c. In our case, ‘zin’ sound could be matched with ‘cin’. Here are two examples:
zin2 = cin2 闡述, 闡明
zin6 踐行 | cin5 實踐
Unfortunately, ‘cin2’ is not the corresponding sound for ‘zin3’ in the case of 濺. Maybe in much earlier time, ‘zin3’ and ‘cin2’ were an literary/colloquial pair but I am not sure.
On reflection, I suspect cin2 is a pronunciation specific to HK, created by analogy from 淺.
In any case, I don't think the reading zin1 needs to be added - confusing for learners. Thanks for the research!

Re: 淡 readings 13:01 by Eldon
[+-]Quote
ycchan
Quote
Eldon
Can I further enquire as to why 淡季, 平淡, 淡水魚, 淡菜 and 淡月, for example, are listed with daam6? Surely these don't count as literary expressions?
淡 in 淡水魚 is definitely taam5. I have never heard "daam seoi" before.
Drat, 淡水魚 wasn't supposed to be in there.
Thanks for the explanation, Chiu - I think I get the difference now!
Re: 轟炸 - verb, right? 12:51 by Eldon
[+-]updated - thanks~~~
𡃓 for 噃 11:30 by pjdekl
[+-]An alternative character I couldn't find in Cantodict:
𡃓 for 噃
bo3 粵 final particle for purpose of reminding
Re: 轟炸 - verb, right? 10:02 by Tang
[+-]「轟炸」can be verb or noun
「一場轟炸」- "a bombardment"
「轟炸東京」- "bombing Tokyo
Help, I need wedding vows translated 06:09 by Coupmamam
[+-]We are gathered here in the presence of witnesses for the purpose of uniting in matrimony "Bride" and "Groom"
The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a a deep appreciation of its obligations and responsibilities.
Please remember that love, loyalty and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home. No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to pledge.
(Ring portion)
"I give you this ring, in token and pledge, of my constant faith, and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed."
Now that you have joined yourselves in solemn matrimony may you strive all your lives to meet this commitment with the same love and devotion you now posses.
And now by virtue of the authority vested me as Deputy Marriage Commissioner by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
轟炸 - verb, right? 04:56 by Eldon
[+-]
好聽音樂-in other words sweet music! 03:08 by Scottie_Boi
[+-]