bok3 tau4膊頭膊头

Jyutpingbok3 tau4

Yalebok tàuh

名詞Very common

Definition

Shoulder; the part of the body where the arm connects to the torso.

ngo5我bok3膊tau4頭tung3痛。

ngo5我bok3膊tau4头tung3痛。

My shoulder hurts.

colloquialbodyhealth

How it's used

Beyond the literal anatomical meaning, this term is frequently used in metaphorical contexts regarding responsibility or social influence. When someone says they have a heavy load on their shoulders, they are often referring to the weight of life or work duties. It also appears in idioms like 拍膊頭, which can imply seeking a favor or leveraging a personal connection to get something done.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢paak3拍zo2咗ngo5我bok3膊tau4頭jat1一haa5下。

He patted my shoulder once.

nei5你bok3膊tau4頭tung3痛m4唔tung3痛aa4呀？

Does your shoulder hurt?

Related words

synonymbok3膊bok

Common phrases

paak3拍bok3膊tau4頭

to pat on the shoulder; to pull strings

bok3膊tau4頭tung3痛

shoulder pain

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 肩膀. While they are understood, using the latter in casual conversation will sound unnatural to native speakers who exclusively use 膊頭 in daily life.