bong2膀
Jyutpingbong2
Yalebóng
Definition
Arm or shoulder.
- arm; upper arm; shoulder
- technicalforearm, particularly referring to the "bong sau" block in Wing Chun
colloquialbody
How it's used
While 膀 is the character often used in martial arts contexts like 膀手, the common everyday term for shoulder is 膊頭. Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 膊頭 when referring to the body part, reserving 膀 for specific technical or literary contexts. Using 膀 in casual conversation to mean shoulder will sound unnatural or overly formal.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the character 膀 with 膊. Remember that 膊頭 is the standard spoken word for shoulder, whereas 膀 is primarily used in the context of Wing Chun techniques or specific anatomical descriptions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
