mou4 gun2毛管
Jyutpingmou4 gun2
Yalemòuh gún
Definition
Body hair, especially in the context of getting goosebumps from fear or cold.
colloquialbodyemotion
How it's used
The term is almost exclusively used in the fixed expression 毛管戙 to describe the physical sensation of goosebumps. While it literally refers to the hair follicles or pores, you will rarely hear it used in isolation to describe the anatomy itself. It functions as a vivid, visceral way to express being startled or deeply unsettled by something eerie.
Examples
Seeing this horror movie, I got goosebumps immediately.
Related words
Common phrases
to have goosebumps
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 雞皮疙瘩. While they share the same meaning, using the Mandarin phrase in a Cantonese conversation will sound unnatural and out of place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
