自閉症
zi6 bai3 zing3
The Cantonese word for autism is 自閉症 (zi6 bai3 zing3).
自閉症 is a noun used to refer to the neurological disorder of autism.
Meaning: neurological disorder (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the characters 自閉 (zi6 bai3), which literally mean self-closed or self-isolated, followed by the character for disorder or condition.
How do you pronounce it?
zi6 bai3 zing3
Did you know?
- While 自閉症 (zi6 bai3 zing3) is the standard term, some Cantonese speakers use the phrase 星星小朋友 (sing1 sing1 siu2 pang4 jiu2), meaning 'star children', as a poetic and gentle way to refer to children with autism.
- The character 閉 (bai3) in 自閉症 (zi6 bai3 zing3) is also used in the common Cantonese phrase 閉關 (bai3 gwaan1), which refers to a monk entering secluded meditation or a country adopting an isolationist policy.
- The term 自閉 (zi6 bai3) is used in Cantonese slang to describe 'hikikomori' or extreme social withdrawal, even if the person does not have a clinical diagnosis of autism.
Examples in context
- 「自閉症」係一種發育性疾病，影響個人社交互動同溝通能力。"Autism" is a developmental disorder that affects an individual's social interaction and communication skills.
- 佢有自閉症。keoi5 jau5 zi6 bai3 zing3.He has autism.
- 我哋要理解自閉症患者。ngo5 dei6 jiu3 lei5 gaai2 zi6 bai3 zing3 waan6 ze2.We need to understand people with autism.
Example conversation
Mei Ling and Chun Kit are discussing a documentary they watched.
- 美玲 Mei Ling你睇咗嗰個關於自閉症嘅紀錄片未？nei5 tai2 zo2 go2 go3 gwaan1 jyu3 zi6 bai3 zing3 ge3 gei3 luk6 pin2 mei6?Have you seen that documentary about autism yet?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit未睇，係講緊啲咩？mei6 tai2, hai6 gong2 gan2 di1 me1?Not yet, what is it about?
- 美玲 Mei Ling講緊自閉症小朋友點樣學習。gong2 gan2 zi6 bai3 zing3 siu2 pang4 jau2 dim2 joeng2 hok6 zap1.It's about how children with autism learn.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit聽落好有意思，我今晚睇。ting1 laak6 hou2 jau5 ji3 si1, ngo5 gam1 maan5 tai2.That sounds interesting, I'll watch it tonight.
