bui3 mui4背脢
Jyutpingbui3 mui4
Yalebui mùih
Definition
The upper back, especially around the spine.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the upper and middle part of the back, often used when describing physical aches or needing a massage. While standard written Chinese uses 背, Cantonese speakers frequently use 背脢 in casual conversation to be more precise about the body part. It carries a slightly more tactile or physical connotation than the generic term.
Examples
Their back hurts a lot, maybe it is because of poor posture.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 背脊, which is the more common, general term for the entire back. Using 背脢 in a formal medical report or professional setting may sound too informal or dialectal.
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.
