sau2 goek3手腳手脚
Jyutpingsau2 goek3
Yalesáu geuk
Definition
One's limbs, body parts, or bodily movement.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of limbs, this term frequently describes the speed or efficiency of someone's actions. It can also imply underhanded or suspicious behavior, such as in the phrase 搞手腳, which suggests tampering or cheating. Using it to describe someone's work speed is a very common way to compliment or criticize their productivity.
Examples
He works very quickly and gets things done in no time.
Why are you moving so slowly?
Related words
Common phrases
slow at working
fast at working
to tamper or cheat
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal anatomy of hands and feet when someone is talking about work efficiency. If someone says you have slow 手腳, they are commenting on your work pace rather than your actual physical limbs.
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.
