hoi2 maa5 tai2海馬體海马体
Jyutpinghoi2 maa5 tai2
Yalehói máh tái
Definition
Hippocampus; a major component of the brain responsible for memory and spatial navigation.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Scientific and medical terminology in Cantonese often relies on direct translations of English terms. While 海馬體 is the standard term used in biology and psychology, it is rarely used outside of academic or clinical discussions. Most speakers would simply refer to the brain or memory functions in casual conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Damage to the hippocampus will affect memory.
Do you know where the hippocampus is?
Related words
Common phrases
hippocampal damage
hippocampal atrophy
Common mistake
Learners might confuse this with the animal seahorse, which is also called 海馬. Context is essential to distinguish between the anatomical structure and the marine creature.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
