sai3 kwan2細菌细菌

Jyutpingsai3 kwan2

Yalesai kwán

名詞Uncommon

Definition

Germ or bacterium.

bacterium; a single-celled organism that reproduces by division
germ; a disease-causing microorganism

neutralhealthbody

How it's used

Refers specifically to microscopic organisms, but is frequently used in daily life as a general term for dirt or unhygienic conditions. It carries a slightly more scientific nuance than the common term 污糟, which focuses on the state of being messy or dirty. When discussing health, it is often paired with 感染 to describe the result of exposure.

Measure word

zung3種jung

Examples

nei5你sik6食je5嘢zi1之cin4前gei3記dak1得sai2洗sau2手，hou2好do1多sai3細kwan2菌㗎。

Remember to wash your hands before eating, there are many germs.

ni1呢dou6度gam3咁wu1污zou1糟，wui2會m4唔wui2會jau5有sai3細kwan2菌gam2感jim5染aa1呀？

It is so dirty here, could there be a bacterial infection?

Common phrases

sai3細kwan2菌gam2感jim5染

bacterial infection

saat3殺sei2死sai3細kwan2菌

kill germs

Common mistake

Learners often confuse it with 病毒, which refers to viruses. While both are used interchangeably in casual speech to describe things that make you sick, they are biologically distinct and should not be used as synonyms in medical or scientific contexts.