waai4懷怀
Jyutpingwaai4
Yalewàaih
Definition
The chest or bosom.
neutralbodypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the area of the chest or the space between the chest and clothing. It is rarely used as a standalone noun in modern spoken Cantonese, appearing mostly in compounds or specific phrases like 懷入面. It carries a warm, protective connotation, often associated with holding a child or a precious object close to one's body.
Examples
She is holding the doll to her chest.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the verb 懷, which means to be pregnant or to harbor a feeling. In everyday speech, use 胸口 when referring to the anatomical chest area rather than the metaphorical or poetic space of the bosom.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
