ngo4 hau4蛾喉
Jyutpingngo4 hau4
Yalengòh hàuh
Definition
Acute tonsillitis; a throat infection characterized by swollen tonsils.
colloquialhealthbody
How it's used
This term is a traditional Cantonese colloquialism for tonsillitis, often used by older generations to describe the specific swelling and white spots associated with the condition. It is less common among younger speakers who may prefer the medical term or simply describe the symptoms. It carries a slightly folk-remedy connotation, as it is frequently paired with discussions about traditional Chinese medicine treatments.
Examples
His throat hurts as if he has acute tonsillitis.
Related words
Common phrases
to have acute tonsillitis
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general sore throat, which is simply 喉嚨痛. 蛾喉 specifically implies the visible swelling or infection of the tonsils, not just any throat irritation.
Grammar color guide
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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.
