si1 haai4屍骸尸骸
Jyutpingsi1 haai4
Yalesī hàaih
Definition
Skeletal remains; a corpse that has decayed to the bone.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the skeletal remains of a person, carrying a much more clinical or forensic tone than the general term 屍體. It is frequently used in news reports or crime dramas to describe bodies that have decomposed to the point where only bones are left. Because of its stark nature, it is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing historical sites or criminal investigations.
Measure word
fu3副fuExamples
A skeleton was discovered in the remote mountains.
Why is there a skeleton here?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe a fresh corpse or a body that still has flesh, as it specifically implies advanced decomposition where only the skeleton remains.
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.
