pei4 baau1 gwat1皮包骨
Jyutpingpei4 baau1 gwat1
Yalepèih bāau gwāt
Definition
Extremely skinny, scrawny, or bony.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This expression is used to describe someone who is unhealthily thin or gaunt. It carries a stronger connotation of concern or shock compared to just saying someone is skinny, as it implies a lack of muscle and fat that makes the skeletal structure visible. It is often used when someone has lost a significant amount of weight due to illness or stress.
Examples
He is so skinny he's just skin and bones; he really needs to eat more.
Why are you so scrawny? Are you sick?
Related words
Common phrases
so thin that one is just skin and bones
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is naturally slim or athletic, as it implies an undesirable, sickly appearance. It is a descriptive phrase for a state of being rather than a direct noun for a person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
