tong4膛
Jyutpingtong4
Yaletòhng
Definition
Chest or thorax, or the hollow chamber of an object.
- chest; thorax
- chamber; cavity; hollow space inside an object
neutralbody
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used as a bound morpheme in the compound 胸膛. It refers specifically to the chest area or the cavity of the body, carrying a slightly more literary or descriptive tone than the common spoken word 心口. While it can technically refer to the hollow interior of an object, such usage is rare in modern daily speech.
Examples
His chest hurts as if it has been pierced through.
Feel his chest and see if there is still a heartbeat.
Related words
Common phrases
chest
Common mistake
Do not use this character as a standalone noun for chest in casual conversation. Always use the compound 胸膛 or the more common colloquial term 心口 to avoid sounding unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
