paau3 can2皰疹疱疹
Jyutpingpaau3 can2
Yalepaau chán
Definition
Herpes; a viral skin disease characterized by the outbreak of blisters.
neutralhealthbody
How it's used
Medical terminology like 皰疹 is often used in clinical settings or when discussing symptoms with a doctor. In casual daily conversation, people are much more likely to use the descriptive term 水泡 to refer to the blisters themselves, regardless of the underlying cause. Using the formal term might sound slightly clinical or overly serious depending on the context.
Measure word
zung3種jungExamples
He has herpes and it hurts so much he can't sleep.
Are you having a herpes outbreak? Remember to see a doctor.
Related words
Common phrases
to have a herpes outbreak
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the pronunciation of the character 皰 with 泡, leading to confusion with the common word 水泡. Ensure you distinguish the medical condition from the general term for a blister.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.



