saam1 mei5衫尾
Jyutpingsaam1 mei5
Yalesāam méih
Definition
Shirttail; the hem or back tail of a shirt.
colloquialclothing
How it's used
Refers specifically to the bottom hem of a shirt or top, often used in the context of children clinging to a parent for security. It carries a slightly nostalgic or protective nuance when describing someone following another person closely. It is rarely used to describe the hem of trousers or skirts, which have their own specific terms.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
The kid is holding onto their mother's shirttail and refusing to leave.
Related words
Common phrases
to tug at someone's shirttail
to tuck in one's shirttail
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 褲腳, which refers to the hem of trousers. Using 衫尾 for anything other than the bottom edge of a shirt or jacket will sound unnatural to native speakers.
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.
