sit3舌
Jyutpingsit3
Yalesit
Definition
Tongue; the muscle in the mouth used for chewing, swallowing, speaking, and tasting.
neutralbody
How it's used
While 舌 is the formal term for tongue, it is rarely used in isolation in daily speech. Native speakers almost exclusively use 脷 to refer to the organ itself. Using 舌 in casual conversation can sound overly clinical or like you are reading from a medical textbook.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Related words
Common phrases
to stick one's tongue out
Common mistake
Do not use 舌 as a standalone noun in daily life. Always use 脷 instead, as 舌 is primarily reserved for compound words or formal contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
