zi1姿
Jyutpingzi1
Yalejī
Definition
Looks, appearance, or beauty.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
The character 姿 rarely stands alone in modern spoken Cantonese and is almost always part of a compound word. It carries a nuance of aesthetic presentation or deliberate style. When used in the reduplicated form 姿姿整整, it describes someone who is meticulous or perhaps overly concerned with their appearance.
Examples
He always goes out looking all prim and proper.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 姿勢, which specifically refers to physical posture or body position. While 姿 relates to appearance, 姿勢 is strictly about the way someone holds their body.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
