taam3 jit6 zam1探熱針探热针
Jyutpingtaam3 jit6 zam1
Yaletaam yiht jām
Definition
Clinical thermometer used for measuring body temperature.
colloquialhealthbody
How it's used
Refers specifically to medical devices used for checking body temperature, distinct from general thermometers used for cooking or weather. While modern digital versions are standard, older mercury types are still occasionally referred to by this name by older generations. It is almost exclusively used in a domestic or clinical care context when someone is suspected of being unwell.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
Are you having a fever? Quickly get the thermometer out and check.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with temperature gauges used for objects or environments, which are usually called 溫度計. Using 探熱針 for anything other than checking a person's body temperature will sound 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).
