tou3 seon4兔唇
Jyutpingtou3 seon4
Yaletou sèuhn
Definition
Cleft lip; a congenital condition where the upper lip is split.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to a congenital condition where the upper lip does not fuse properly before birth. While the term literally translates to rabbit lip, it is the standard medical and colloquial way to describe this condition in Hong Kong. It is often discussed in the context of corrective surgery or early childhood medical care.
Examples
He had surgery to repair his cleft lip when he was young.
The doctor says a cleft lip can be improved through surgery.
Related words
Common phrases
repair a cleft lip
Common mistake
Avoid using this term as a descriptor for someone's appearance in a casual or mocking way, as it is a medical condition and can be highly offensive if used as a label or insult.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
