血壓
hyut3 aat3
The English phrase 'blood pressure' is translated into Cantonese as 血壓 (hyut3 aat3).
血壓 refers to the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries and veins. You can also use the related term 高血壓 to specifically mean 'high blood pressure'. If you want to express the action of measuring blood pressure, place the verb 量 (to measure) before the noun to form 量血壓.
Meaning: pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries and veins (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 血壓 is a compound of 血, meaning 'blood' and 壓, meaning 'pressure'.
How do you pronounce it?
hyut3 aat3
Did you know?
- Adding the word 爆 (explode) after 血壓 is a common colloquial way to describe an extreme spike in blood pressure caused by anger or stress.
- In Hong Kong, you will often see 血壓 paired with the term 三高 (three highs), which refers to the cluster of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol.
- The character 壓 (aat3), which forms the second half of 血壓, is the same character used in the word for 'to pressure' or 'to bully' someone, such as in the term 欺壓 (kei1 aat3).
Examples in context
- 佢嘅血壓好高。keoi5 ge3 hyut3 aat3 hou2 gou1.His blood pressure is very high.
- 醫生想量下我嘅血壓。ji1 sang1 soeng2 loeng6 haa5 ngo5 ge3 hyut3 aat3.The doctor wants to measure my blood pressure.
Example conversation
At a health check-up center.
- 美玲 Mei Ling志強，請量血壓。Zi3 Keong4, cing2 loeng4 hyut3 aat3.Zi Qiang, please measure your blood pressure.
- 志強 Chi Keung我好緊張，會影響血壓嗎？ngo5 hou2 ging1 zang1, wui5 jing2 hoeng2 hyut3 aat3 ma1?I'm very nervous, will it affect my blood pressure?
- 美玲 Mei Ling放鬆啲就冇問題。fong3 sung1 di1 zau6 mou5 man6 tai4.It will be fine if you relax.
- 志強 Chi Keung好，我而家量。hou2, ngo5 ji4 gaa1 loeng4.Okay, I'll measure it now.
