sat1 naa2虱乸
Jyutpingsat1 naa2
Yalesāt ná
Definition
Head louse; a parasite that lives in human hair.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Modern hygiene standards have made this word quite rare in everyday life, often carrying a slightly old fashioned or rural connotation. It is frequently used in a metaphorical sense to describe someone who is unhygienic or dirty. You might hear it used as a teasing insult towards someone who neglects their personal grooming.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Your head is so itchy, did you get head lice?
Related words
Common phrases
to get head lice
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 蚤, which is a generic term for fleas or other small biting insects. 虱乸 specifically refers to head lice found in hair, whereas 蚤 is usually associated with pets or carpets.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
