kwai1 caai4虧柴亏柴
Jyutpingkwai1 caai4
Yalekwāi chàaih
Definition
Weak, thin, physically frail, or lacking in stamina.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of being frail or lacking vitality, often implying that someone has lost their healthy glow or physical strength. It is frequently used to describe someone who has recently recovered from a long illness or who has been neglecting their health. The imagery evokes a piece of wood that has been stripped or dried out, suggesting a lack of substance.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
skinny and frail
a person is weak and sickly
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is naturally slim or athletic, as it specifically implies an unhealthy or sickly state of weakness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
