hau2 hong1口腔
Jyutpinghau2 hong1
Yaleháu hōng
Definition
Oral cavity; the mouth.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the anatomical space inside the mouth rather than the mouth as an external feature. While it is a formal term often found in medical advice or dental product advertisements, it is perfectly understood in daily conversation when discussing health issues. Use 口 or 嘴巴 when referring to the mouth as a whole or for casual speech.
Examples
Do you clean your mouth every day?
The doctor said there is inflammation inside my oral cavity.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to refer to the lips or the act of speaking, as it strictly denotes the interior cavity. Beginners often mistakenly use it when they simply mean mouth, which sounds overly clinical or strange in casual social settings.
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.
