hoeng1 gai1香雞香鸡
Jyutpinghoeng1 gai1
Yalehēung gāi
Definition
Thin and skinny, usually used to describe a person's limbs.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
Refers specifically to limbs that look frail or bony, often implying a lack of muscle or strength. It carries a slightly mocking or blunt tone, so avoid using it when describing someone you do not know well. It is essentially a visual metaphor comparing thin limbs to the thin, spindly legs of a chicken.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
skinny limbs
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a person's overall body shape, as it is strictly used for limbs like arms or legs. Using it to describe a person's entire physique would sound unnatural and confusing to native speakers.
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.
