lung4 gwat1龍骨龙骨
Jyutpinglung4 gwat1
Yalelùhng gwāt
Definition
Keel of a ship, or dragon bones used as a Chinese medicinal herb.
- keel; the structural beam at the bottom of a ship for weight and stability
- technicaldragon bones; fossilized bones of ancient mammals used in traditional Chinese medicine
neutraltransporthealth
How it's used
Distinguishing between the nautical term and the medicinal ingredient relies entirely on context. In a shipyard, it refers to the structural backbone of a vessel, while in a traditional Chinese medicine shop, it refers to fossilized bones used for their sedative properties. It is rarely used in daily conversation outside of these two specific professional domains.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
The keel of this boat is broken, we need to find a master to fix it.
The doctor says we need to add some dragon bone to this herbal medicine prescription.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term for the human spine, which is usually referred to as 脊骨 or 龍骨 in some regional dialects, but in standard Cantonese, using 龍骨 for a human spine can sound overly dramatic or anatomical.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
