sau3 gwat1 caai4瘦骨柴
Jyutpingsau3 gwat1 caai4
Yalesau gwāt chàaih
Definition
A very skinny person; skin and bones.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This term is a vivid, slightly derogatory way to describe someone who is unhealthily thin or gaunt. It literally compares a person to thin, dry firewood, emphasizing a lack of muscle or flesh. It is rarely used as a neutral descriptor and often implies that the person looks weak or frail.
Examples
He is so skinny, how can he move these heavy things?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone you do not know well, as it can sound like a rude insult regarding their appearance rather than a simple observation of their build.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
