lim5 sik1臉色脸色
Jyutpinglim5 sik1
Yalelíhm sīk
Definition
Facial expression or complexion.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
While 臉色 and 面色 are interchangeable when referring to skin tone or health, 臉色 is more frequently used when discussing someone's emotional state or mood as reflected on their face. It often appears in contexts where someone is trying to read another person's reaction to avoid conflict. Using it to describe someone's mood is very common in workplace or family dynamics.
Measure word
zung3種jungExamples
His complexion looks terrible today, is he sick?
Related words
Common phrases
pale complexion
to walk on eggshells around someone
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can imply giving someone a cold or angry look. In Cantonese, while it can imply this, it is more commonly used to describe the actual physical appearance of the face as a reflection of health or internal feelings.
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.
