ziu3 ik1 si4 gwong1照X光
Jyutpingziu3 ik1 si4 gwong1
Yalejiu īk sìh gwōng
Definition
To take an X-ray.
colloquialhealth
How it's used
This phrase is the standard way to refer to medical imaging in both casual conversation and clinical settings. While X-ray is an English loanword, it is fully integrated into the Cantonese lexicon and functions as a verb phrase. It is common to hear it paired with the verb 去 when describing the action of going to a clinic or hospital for the procedure.
Examples
The doctor told me to go for an X-ray tomorrow.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes try to translate the English verb take literally, but in Cantonese, the verb 照 is used to indicate the act of scanning or capturing the image.
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.
