lou5 nai4老泥
Jyutpinglou5 nai4
Yalelóuh nàih
Definition
Dirt or dead skin on the human body; grime on the skin.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the dark, rolled up bits of dead skin and dirt that accumulate on the body after a period without bathing. It carries a slightly derogatory or teasing tone when used to describe someone else, implying they are unhygienic.
Measure word
cang4層chànghExamples
You have a lot of grime on the back of your neck.
Remember to scrub off the dirt when you take a shower.
Related words
Common phrases
to scrub off grime
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general dirt or dust on objects, which is usually called 塵. 老泥 is strictly reserved for the biological grime found on human skin.
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.
