sau3瘦
Jyutpingsau3
Yalesau
Definition
Thin, slim, or lean.
- thin; slim; lacking body fat
- (of meat) lean; containing little or no fat
colloquialbodyfood
How it's used
Beyond describing body weight, this word is frequently applied to food, specifically meat that lacks fat. When used for people, it can sound like a compliment or a concern depending on the speaker's tone, but it is rarely used to mean sickly unless paired with words like 乾瘦. It contrasts directly with 肥, which is the standard term for fat or overweight.
Examples
Have you been dieting lately? You look so much thinner.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe objects that are narrow or slender, such as a thin book or a thin stick; for those, use 幼 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
