sau3 gwat1 jyu4 caai4瘦骨如柴
Jyutpingsau3 gwat1 jyu4 caai4
Yalesau gwāt yùh chàaih
Definition
As thin as a lath; extremely skinny, bony, and thin.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone who is unhealthily or strikingly thin. It carries a slightly dramatic or critical tone, often implying that the person looks frail or malnourished rather than just slim.
Examples
He became skin and bones after being sick, it is really pitiful.
Related words
Common phrases
a very skinny person
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is naturally slender or fit, as it specifically highlights an extreme, almost skeletal appearance that suggests poor health.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
