gwan1 lit6龜裂龟裂
Jyutpinggwan1 lit6
Yalegwān liht
Definition
Cracked or chapped; dried up with a network of fine cracks resembling a tortoise shell.
neutralnaturebody
How it's used
While literally describing the pattern of a turtle shell, this term is frequently applied to skin conditions caused by extreme dryness or cold. It implies a network of fine, intersecting cracks rather than a single large fissure. You will often hear it used when describing parched soil or damaged paintwork that has weathered over time.
Examples
The weather is so dry that my hands are chapped too.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a single, clean break in an object, such as a broken plate or a snapped branch. It specifically refers to surface-level, spiderweb-like cracking caused by dehydration or environmental stress.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
