gei1 dau2箕斗

Jyutpinggei1 dau2
Yalegēi dáu

Definition

Loop and whorl patterns of a fingerprint; also refers to constellations or a skip.

  1. patterns of a fingerprint, specifically loops and whorls
  2. technicala skip; a dump cart used in mining
  3. literarythe Winnowing Basket and Dipper constellations
  4. literaryfalse reputation
colloquialbody

How it's used

Refers specifically to the whorl pattern found on fingertips, which looks like a circular basket or sieve. It is commonly discussed in the context of palmistry or identifying fingerprint types. Outside of this specific biological or fortune-telling context, the term is rarely used in daily speech.

Measure word

go3go

Examples

Do you know what a whorl pattern is?

Common phrases

ten whorl patterns on all fingers

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the general word for fingerprint, which is 手指模. Using 箕斗 to refer to a regular fingerprint will confuse listeners, as it only describes one specific shape.

Grammar color guide

Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector