zek3 cyu5脊柱
Jyutpingzek3 cyu5
Yalejek chyúh
Definition
Spinal column; spine.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Medical professionals and biology textbooks use this term to describe the anatomical structure of the backbone. In casual daily conversation, people almost always prefer using 骨 or 背脊 to refer to the back or spine area. Using this term outside of a clinical or academic context can sound overly formal or stiff.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
His posture is always bad, which makes his spine hurt.
The doctor said he has scoliosis and needs regular physical therapy.
Related words
Common phrases
scoliosis
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 脊骨, which is the more common, everyday way to refer to the individual vertebrae or the spine as a whole in a non-technical sense.
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.
