si6 be1 taai1士啤呔
Jyutpingsi6 be1 taai1
Yalesih bē tāai
Definition
A spare tyre, referring both to the automotive spare and to a big, rolls-of-fat belly.
- spare tyre for a vehicle
- figurativea large belly with rolls of fat; a spare tyre around the waist
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the roll of fat around the waistline, mimicking the appearance of a spare tyre stored in a car. It is used in a casual, slightly teasing, or self-deprecating manner when discussing weight gain or body shape. While it originates from the literal meaning of a spare tyre, the metaphorical usage is far more common in daily conversation.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Have you been eating more lately? Your spare tyre is showing.
He has been losing weight for a long time and finally got rid of his spare tyre.
Related words
Common phrases
to lose the spare tyre
to develop a spare tyre
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a literal spare tyre for a vehicle, as that is usually referred to as 後備呔. Using it for a car part will confuse listeners as they will assume you are talking about someone's stomach.
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.
