sau2 gwaa1手瓜
Jyutpingsau2 gwaa1
Yalesáu gwā
Definition
The upper arm, or the biceps muscle.
colloquialbody
How it's used
Refers specifically to the biceps muscle of the upper arm rather than the entire arm. It is frequently used in the context of bodybuilding or showing off strength. When someone flexes their arm to show muscle, they are showing off their 手瓜.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
He goes to the gym all the time to work on his biceps.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 手臂 which refers to the entire arm from shoulder to wrist. Using 手瓜 to describe the whole arm sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
