lo4 baak6 zai2蘿蔔仔萝卜仔
Jyutpinglo4 baak6 zai2
Yalelòh baahk jái
Definition
Chilblains; a mild skin injury caused by exposure to cold and damp.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the small, itchy, red swellings that appear on fingers or toes during cold weather. It is a very common, slightly informal term used by locals to describe this specific winter ailment. The literal translation of small radish is used because the inflamed skin often resembles the shape and color of a tiny vegetable.
Examples
It is so cold that I have developed chilblains.
You have chilblains on your hands, remember to apply ointment.
Related words
Common phrases
to develop chilblains
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the vegetable 蘿蔔, which is a radish. While the word is the same, the context of cold weather or skin irritation makes the meaning clear to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
