zek3脊
Jyutpingzek3
Yalejek
Definition
The back of something, such as a spine, a ridge, or a backbone.
- spine; backbone
- ridge; crest
neutralbody
How it's used
Refers specifically to the bony structure of the spine or the ridge of an object. It is rarely used as a standalone noun in casual speech, appearing most frequently in compound words like 脊骨 or 脊椎. When describing the back of a person, 膊頭 or 背脊 are much more common choices.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 脊 to refer to the entire back of a person, as it specifically denotes the skeletal structure or a sharp ridge. Use 背脊 when talking about the back of the body.
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).
