sai1 baan1 ngaa4 cong1 jing4西班牙蒼蠅西班牙苍蝇
Jyutpingsai1 baan1 ngaa4 cong1 jing4
Yalesāi bāan ngàh chōng yìhng
Definition
Spanish fly; an aphrodisiac containing cantharidin, extracted from a type of blister beetle.
colloquialhealthother
How it's used
This term refers specifically to a historical aphrodisiac derived from the blister beetle. It is rarely used in modern medical contexts and is mostly encountered in historical discussions, literature, or cautionary tales about dangerous folk remedies. The substance is highly toxic and can cause severe internal damage, so it is often mentioned with a sense of skepticism or warning.
Measure word
zung3種jungExamples
I heard that some people used to use Spanish fly as medicine.
Are these Spanish flies really that effective?
Related words
Common phrases
extract Spanish fly
toxicity of Spanish fly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with actual flies or common insects, as it is a specific historical medicinal term. Using it casually in conversation might sound strange or imply an interest in outdated and dangerous practices.
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).
