on3 mo1按摩
Jyutpingon3 mo1
Yaleon mō
Definition
Massage; applying pressure to joints or muscle groups to relieve fatigue.
colloquialhealthdaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of kneading or pressing muscles to relieve tension, often associated with relaxation or health treatments in Hong Kong. While it functions as a noun, it is frequently used as a verb in casual speech, such as saying 去按摩 to mean going to a massage parlor. It is distinct from medical treatments like physiotherapy, which would be referred to as 物理治療.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a general term for touching or rubbing, but it specifically implies a therapeutic or professional context. Using it to describe casual touching or petting can sound awkward or inappropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
