laan4 mei5闌尾阑尾

Jyutpinglaan4 mei5

Yalelàahn méih

名詞

Definition

Appendix; the vermiform or caecal appendix in the digestive system.

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How it's used

Medical terminology in Cantonese often relies on formal terms that are identical to written Chinese, making them sound quite clinical in daily speech. While people are familiar with the term, they will almost always refer to the condition of having an inflamed appendix as 盲腸炎 instead of using the technically more accurate 闌尾炎.

Measure word

tiu4條tìuh

Examples

ji1醫sang1生waa6話keoi5佢tiu4條laan4闌mei5尾faat3發jim4炎，jiu3要zik1即hak1刻zou6做sau2手seot6術。

The doctor said his appendix is inflamed and he needs surgery immediately.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知laan4闌mei5尾kei4其sat6實jau5有me1咩jung6用㗎？

Do you know what the appendix is actually used for?

Common phrases

laan4闌mei5尾jim4炎

appendicitis

cit3切ceoi4除laan4闌mei5尾

appendectomy

Common mistake

Most native speakers colloquially call the appendix 盲腸, which technically refers to the cecum. Using 闌尾 is correct in a medical context, but using 盲腸 in casual conversation is far more common and expected.