gwat1 tau4骨頭骨头

Jyutpinggwat1 tau4

Yalegwāt tàuh

名詞Common

Definition

Bone; also used figuratively to refer to a person's character.

bone
figurativecharacter; personality; moral fiber

colloquialfoodbody

How it's used

While 骨頭 is understood, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 骨 in daily life for literal bones. Using 骨頭 often sounds slightly more literary or like a direct translation from Mandarin. When referring to someone having a strong personality or integrity, the phrase 有骨氣 is preferred over using 骨頭.

Measure word

tiu4條tìuh

Examples

le1呢gau6舊juk6肉hou2好do1多gwat1骨tau4頭，hou2好naan4難sik6食aa4呀。

This piece of meat has so many bones, it is hard to eat.

nei5你zou6做jan4人jiu3要jau5有gwat1骨tau4頭，m4唔hou2好gam3咁jung4容ji6易zau6就fong3放hei3棄。

You need to have backbone, do not give up so easily.

Common phrases

kang2啃gwat1骨tau4頭

to gnaw on a bone

ngaang6硬gwat1骨tau4頭

a tough nut to crack

Common mistake

Do not use 骨頭 when talking about specific animal bones in a dish, as 骨 is the standard term. Using 骨頭 in a restaurant setting can sound unnatural or overly formal.