zyu3 ngaa4蛀牙
Jyutpingzyu3 ngaa4
Yalejyu ngàh
Definition
A decayed tooth or tooth with cavities.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the state of decay rather than the act of decaying. While it functions as a noun, it is frequently paired with the verb 蛀 to describe the process of a tooth becoming damaged. It is common to hear people complain about having 蛀牙 after neglecting dental hygiene.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
He didn't brush his teeth when he was young, which resulted in several cavities.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 蛀牙 with the verb 蛀, which describes the action of being eaten away by insects or rot. When referring to the tooth itself, always include the classifier 隻.
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).
