dou1 bui3刀背
Jyutpingdou1 bui3
Yaledōu bui
Definition
The back of a knife blade; the unsharpened, usually thicker side of a knife.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Beyond its literal function as the blunt edge of a blade, this term is frequently used in cooking contexts for tasks like crushing aromatics or tenderizing meat without slicing through the fibers. It is also common in martial arts terminology or action cinema to describe using the non-lethal side of a weapon to subdue an opponent. The thickness of this part is often a key indicator of a knife's quality and intended purpose, such as heavy-duty cleavers versus delicate paring knives.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He used the back of the knife to smash the garlic.
Be careful, don't try to cut things with the back of the knife.
Related words
Common phrases
to smash with the back of a knife
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.
