ngaa4 gaau3牙骹
Jyutpingngaa4 gaau3
Yalengàh gaau
Definition
Jaw joint; the joint that connects the skull and the lower jaw.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Beyond the literal anatomical meaning, this term is central to the common idiom 牙骹軟, which describes someone who is easily persuaded or talks too much. It is frequently used in social contexts to describe the physical fatigue of talking for a long time. Unlike the formal medical term 下顎關節, this is the standard way to refer to the jaw area in everyday conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He talked until his jaw felt weak.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 牙骹戰, which refers to a verbal argument or debate rather than a physical ailment. Using it to describe the teeth themselves is incorrect, as it specifically refers to the joint mechanism.
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.
