hoeng1 gai1 goek3香笄腳香笄脚
Jyutpinghoeng1 gai1 goek3
Yalehēung gāi geuk
Definition
Skinny legs that have very little muscle.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This term is a vivid visual metaphor comparing thin legs to the slender, fragile nature of incense sticks used in temples. It carries a slightly mocking or blunt tone, so it is best avoided when speaking to someone about their own appearance unless you are very close friends. It specifically targets the lack of muscle or thickness, emphasizing a frail or spindly look.
Measure word
deoi3對deuiExamples
Her legs are like incense sticks, they are really skinny.
Related words
Common phrases
a pair of skinny legs
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general terms for thinness like 瘦. This is a specific idiom used to describe the appearance of legs, so it cannot be applied to other body parts like arms or fingers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
