pei4 ngoi6 soeng1皮外傷皮外伤
Jyutpingpei4 ngoi6 soeng1
Yalepèih ngoih sēung
Definition
A superficial wound; minor flesh injury.
neutralhealthbody
How it's used
Focuses specifically on injuries that do not penetrate deep into the body or affect internal organs. It is frequently used to downplay the severity of an accident, providing reassurance that the situation is not life-threatening. You will often hear it used in medical or emergency contexts to distinguish minor scrapes from serious trauma.
Measure word
cyu5處chyúhExamples
Luckily he only has superficial wounds and didn't break any bones.
These are just superficial wounds, you just need to apply a little ointment.
Related words
Common phrases
merely a superficial wound
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe internal injuries or deep lacerations that require stitches. It implies the damage is limited to the surface level, so using it for a serious injury can sound dismissive or inaccurate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
