maan6 gam1 jau4萬金油万金油
Jyutpingmaan6 gam1 jau4
Yalemaahn gām yàuh
Definition
Tiger Balm; a menthol and camphor ointment used to soothe muscle pain, swelling, and itching.
colloquialhealthhome
How it's used
Beyond its literal use as a topical ointment, the term is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person who is a jack of all trades or a solution that can fix any problem. It carries a nostalgic, old school connotation, often associated with the medicine cabinets of grandparents. It is the quintessential household remedy for everything from mosquito bites to motion sickness.
Measure word
zeon1樽jēunExamples
Your head hurts? Apply some Tiger Balm.
Is there any Tiger Balm in the home medicine cabinet?
Related words
Common phrases
apply Tiger Balm
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with generic medicated oils like 白花油, as the texture is distinctively waxy and solid rather than liquid. It is specifically a balm, not an oil.
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.
