hau2 seon4口唇
Jyutpinghau2 seon4
Yaleháu sèuhn
Definition
Lips.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
While 嘴唇 is the standard term for lips, 口唇 is frequently used in specific idioms and descriptive phrases regarding health or appearance. It carries a slightly more visceral or descriptive tone, often appearing when discussing physical symptoms like paleness or dryness. You will hear it most naturally in the fixed expression 面青口唇白 to describe someone who looks unwell or frightened.
Measure word
pin2片pínExamples
They look pale and sickly, are they ill?
The weather is so dry that my lips have cracked.
Related words
Common phrases
pale and sickly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 口唇期, which is a psychological term for the oral stage of development. In everyday conversation, stick to 嘴唇 for general reference to the body part unless you are using the specific idiom mentioned above.
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.
