sai1 ji1西醫西医
Jyutpingsai1 ji1
Yalesāi yī
Definition
Western medicine, or a practitioner of Western medicine.
- Western medicine; Western medical theory and methods
- a doctor who practices Western medicine
colloquialhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the medical practitioner or the system of medicine originating from the West, often contrasted with 中醫. In Hong Kong, people frequently use this term to distinguish between modern clinical practice and traditional herbal or bone-setting treatments. It is common to hear people say they are going to 睇西醫 when they need a quick diagnosis or antibiotics.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
Do you think Western medicine or Chinese medicine is better?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with the general concept of medicine, but it specifically denotes the Western medical tradition. It is not used to describe the medicine itself as a substance, which would be 西藥.
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.
