waa2 han4搲痕
Jyutpingwaa2 han4
Yalewá hàhn
Definition
To scratch an itch.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
搲痕 is the standard colloquial way to describe the physical act of scratching an itch. While 搲 can also mean to scoop or to beg for something in a figurative sense, when paired with 痕 it specifically refers to the relief of an itch. It is a very common, everyday term used to describe both the sensation and the action.
Examples
Is your back itchy? Let me scratch it for you.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the verb 搲 with 抓, which is more common in written Chinese or Mandarin. In Cantonese, 搲 is the natural choice for scratching, whereas 抓 is rarely used in spoken conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
