sau2 zoeng2手掌
Jyutpingsau2 zoeng2
Yalesáu jéung
Definition
The hand, or specifically the palm of the hand.
- the hand; the part of the arm from the wrist to the fingers
- the palm of the hand; the inner surface of the hand with creases
colloquialbody
How it's used
Refers specifically to the inner surface of the hand, distinct from the back of the hand which is called 手背. When people talk about reading palms or hitting someone with an open hand, they are referring to this area. It is rarely used in a metaphorical sense for control or power as is common in Mandarin.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 手掌 with 手, which refers to the entire arm or hand. Use 手掌 only when you need to specify the palm area.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
