感染
gam2 jim3
The Cantonese word for infection is 感染 (gam2 jim3).
Meaning: disease (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 感染 refers to an infection, the phrase 感染症 is used specifically to describe infectious diseases.
How do you pronounce it?
gam2 jim3
Did you know?
- The term 感染 is shared with Mandarin, but in colloquial Cantonese, people often use more specific descriptions like 中招 (hit the mark) to say they have been infected by a virus.
- In Cantonese, you can describe a person as 感染力強, which means they have a strong 'infectious' personality in a positive, charismatic way.
- The word 染 (jim2) in 感染 literally means 'to dye' or 'to stain', providing a vivid mental image of a disease 'staining' or spreading through a person.
Examples in context
- 佢感染咗新型冠狀病毒。He got infected with the novel coronavirus.
- 嗰個病人有感染症嘅症狀。The patient has symptoms of an infection.
- 呢種感染好嚴重。ni1 zung2 gam2 sin2 hou2 jim6 zung6.This infection is very serious.
- 傷口有感染嘅跡象。soeng1 hau2 jau5 gam2 sin2 ge3 zik1 zoeng6.There are signs of infection in the wound.
- 醫生擔心有病毒感染。ji1 sang1 daam1 sam1 jau5 bing2 duk6 gam2 sin2.The doctor is worried about a viral infection.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a cut on a finger.
- 志強 Chi Keung美玲，你個手指紅晒喎。mei5 ling4, nei5 go3 sau2 zi2 hung4 saai3 wo3.Meiling, your finger is all red.
- 美玲 Mei Ling我驚個傷口有感染。ngo5 geng1 go3 soeng1 hau2 jau5 gam2 nin2.I'm afraid the wound has an infection.
- 志強 Chi Keung快啲去睇醫生啦。faai3 di1 heoi3 tai2 ji1 sang1 laa1.Go see a doctor quickly.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好，我而家就去。hou2, ngo5 ji4 gaa1 zau6 heoi3.Okay, I'll go right now.
