daai6 mou5 zi2大拇指

Jyutpingdaai6 mou5 zi2

Yaledaaih móuh jí

名詞

Definition

Thumb

colloquialbody

How it's used

While 大拇指 is understood by everyone, it is considered a more formal or anatomical term in Hong Kong. In everyday speech, people almost exclusively use 手指公 to refer to the thumb. Using the latter sounds much more natural and fits the colloquial rhythm of Cantonese.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

keoi5佢syu6豎hei2起zek3隻daai6大mou5拇zi2指zaan3讚ngo5我zou6做dak1得hou2好。

He gave me a thumbs-up to praise my good work.

nei5你zek3隻daai6大mou5拇zi2指zou6做mat1乜zung2腫zo2咗gam3咁do1多aa4呀？

Why is your thumb so swollen?

Common phrases

syu6豎hei2起daai6大mou5拇zi2指

to give a thumbs-up

Common mistake

Learners often use 大拇指 in casual conversation, which can sound slightly stiff or like a direct translation from Mandarin. Stick to 手指公 for daily life to sound more like a local.