suk1 maai4 jat1 gau6縮埋一嚿缩埋一嚿
Jyutpingsuk1 maai4 jat1 gau6
Yalesūk màaih yāt gauh
Definition
To curl up; to huddle; to pull one's body into a tight ball.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This phrase vividly describes a person pulling their limbs inward to occupy as little space as possible. It is frequently used to convey a sense of vulnerability, extreme cold, or a desire to hide from the world. The word 嚿 is a colloquial measure word for a lump or a mass, which humorously reduces the person to a compact, shapeless bundle.
Examples
He is so cold that he curls up to sleep.
Why are you curling up over there?
Common phrases
curled up from the cold
curled up in fear
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of physical size, but it specifically refers to the posture of curling up. Avoid using it to describe someone who is simply sitting or lying down normally.
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.
