hei2 zaang1起踭
Jyutpinghei2 zaang1
Yalehéi jāang
Definition
To elbow someone; to intentionally strike someone with one's elbow.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Describes a deliberate, aggressive physical action rather than an accidental bump. It carries a strong connotation of hostility or playing dirty in a competitive situation like a sports match or a crowded MTR carriage. The term specifically focuses on the use of the elbow as a weapon.
Examples
He deliberately elbowed me as he walked past.
Why did you suddenly elbow someone for no reason?
Related words
Common phrases
to elbow someone
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe accidentally hitting someone with your elbow, which is better expressed as 撞親. Using 起踭 implies intent to cause discomfort or to push someone away.
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.
