sei3 zi1 gin6 cyun4四肢健全
Jyutpingsei3 zi1 gin6 cyun4
Yalesei jī gihn chyùhn
Definition
Able-bodied, with all four limbs intact and healthy.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This phrase is often used to highlight a contrast between someone's physical capability and their unwillingness to perform a task. It carries a slightly critical or impatient tone when directed at someone who is capable of doing something but chooses not to. While it sounds formal due to the four-character structure, it is frequently used in daily speech to point out laziness.
Examples
He is clearly able-bodied, why does he need help?
Since you are able-bodied, you should walk by yourself.
Related words
Common phrases
an able-bodied person
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply healthy or fit. It specifically refers to the functional state of having all limbs working properly, so using it to praise someone's general health sounds unnatural.
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).
