saan1 sak1栓塞
Jyutpingsaan1 sak1
Yalesāan sāk
Definition
Embolism; the obstruction of an artery or blood vessel by foreign matter such as a blood clot or air bubble.
neutralhealthbody
How it's used
Medical professionals use this term to describe a specific blockage caused by a foreign object moving through the bloodstream. While it sounds technical, it is frequently heard in hospital settings or when discussing serious health conditions like stroke or heart issues. It is distinct from general blockages because it implies the object has traveled from elsewhere to lodge in a narrower vessel.
Examples
The doctor said he has an embolism and needs surgery immediately.
Pulmonary embolism is very dangerous, please do not delay treatment.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general congestion or blockage like 塞車, but 栓塞 is strictly for medical contexts involving blood vessels. Do not use it to describe a clogged drain or a traffic jam.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
