san1 zi2身子
Jyutpingsan1 zi2
Yalesān jí
Definition
Health; a person's physical body or constitution.
colloquialhealthpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the physical constitution or state of health of a person, often carrying a slightly more intimate or caring tone than the generic 身體. It is frequently used when discussing someone who is frail, recovering from an illness, or needing extra care. You will often hear it in advice about taking care of oneself, such as reminding someone to rest more.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to take care of one's health
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to refer to the physical body as a whole, such as when describing body parts or physical appearance. For those contexts, 身體 is the standard and correct choice.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
