ngan1 tiu1 gwai2 ming6奀挑鬼命

Jyutpingngan1 tiu1 gwai2 ming6

Yalengān tīu gwái mihng

Definition

Extremely skinny, frail, and malnourished.

colloquialbodyhealth

How it's used

This expression carries a strong sense of pity or concern for someone's health, often implying that their thinness is a result of poor nutrition or chronic illness. It is more evocative than simply saying someone is thin, as the inclusion of 鬼命 suggests a ghostly, fragile state that makes the person look like they might fade away at any moment. It is typically used to describe children or young people who appear underdeveloped.

Examples

keoi5佢sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣ngan1奀tiu1挑gwai2鬼meng6命，dim2點zi1知daai6大go3個zo2咗gam3咁daai6大zek3隻。

He was a bag of bones when he was small, who knew he would grow up so muscular.

nei5你seng4成jat6日m4唔sik6食je5嘢，ci4遲zou2早bin3變dou3到ngan1奀tiu1挑gwai2鬼meng6命㗎zaa3咋。

You never eat properly, you will end up being a bag of bones sooner or later.

Common phrases

saang1生dak1得ngan1奀tiu1挑gwai2鬼meng6命

to grow up looking extremely frail

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe someone who is naturally slim or athletic, as it specifically highlights a sickly or malnourished appearance. Using it on someone who is healthy and fit will sound insulting rather than descriptive.