zam2枕
Jyutpingzam2
Yalejám
Definition
Callus; a layer of thick, hardened skin usually on the palm of the hand caused by friction.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the hardened, thickened skin resulting from repetitive friction or pressure. While it can appear on feet, it is most commonly discussed regarding hands due to manual labor, sports, or playing string instruments. It is frequently used with the verb 起 to describe the process of the skin hardening over time.
Measure word
cang4層chànghExamples
He lifts heavy things all the time, his hands are covered in calluses.
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 枕頭, which refers to a pillow. The character 枕 is used in both, but when referring to skin, it is a noun for the callus itself, whereas in the context of sleep, it is part of a compound word.
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).
