脷
lei⁶
The Cantonese word for the organ tongue is 脷 (lei⁶). Wiktionary also lists 舌頭 / 舌头 (sit⁶ tau⁴, sit³ tau⁴) and 舌.
Meaning: organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 脷 | lei⁶ |
| 舌頭 / 舌头 | sit⁶ tau⁴, sit³ tau⁴ |
| 舌 |
Which one should you use?
脷 is the colloquial form used most frequently in spoken Cantonese. In contrast, 舌頭 / 舌头 is more formal and is often used in written contexts. The single character 舌 is also a form of the word.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are referring to a specific tongue, such as one's own, you use the classifier 條 before 脷, resulting in the phrase 條脷.
How do you pronounce it?
lei⁶
Did you know?
- The classifier 條 used for 脷 is the same one used for long, thin, flexible objects like snakes or rivers, highlighting the perceived shape of the organ in Cantonese thought.
- In Cantonese culture, describing someone as having a 'long tongue' can sometimes imply they are meddling in other people's business or gossiping.
- The formal word 舌頭 is shared with Mandarin, but the colloquial 脷 is a distinct characteristic of Cantonese.
Examples in context
- 琳達伸咗條脷出嚟。Linda stuck her tongue out.This sentence shows how to use 脷 in the context of sticking one's tongue out.Tatoeba #421999 by nickyeow, translation #29597 by CN
- 阿Tom伸咗條脷出嚟自拍。Tom stuck out his tongue and took a selfie.This sentence demonstrates using 脷 when someone sticks out their tongue for a photo.Tatoeba #7066661 by nickyeow, translation #7027999 by Hybrid
- 就好似當一條蛇噉，喺冬天嘅寒冷入面 / 躺喺地上腫咗，隱藏喺地下，唔見人眼，/吞咗好多草本植物，向光明出發，/又光滑，有閃閃發光嘅青春同新衣，/用佢滑溜嘅體積，直立 / 同埋，光輝，向陽光抬起佢嘅乳房， / 同埋飛出一條三叉尖嘅脷。As when a snake, that through the winter's cold / lay swoln and hidden in the ground from sight, / gorged with rank herbs, forth issues to the light, / and sleek with shining youth and newly drest, / wreathing its slippery volumes, towers upright / and, glorying, to the sunbeam rears its breast, / and darts a three-forked tongue, and points a flaming crest.This sentence uses 脷 in a more descriptive, poetic context.Tatoeba #13493200 by Davidgo5867, translation #6834082 by carlosalberto
- 我的舌根有點痛。The root of my tongue is a bit sore.
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Mei Ling are talking about a food burn.
- 家明 Ka Ming美玲，你條脷係咪燒咗？Mei Ling, nei tiu lei hai mai siu zo?Mei Ling, did you burn your tongue?
- 美玲 Mei Ling係呀，啱啱啲湯太熱。hai aa, ngaam ngaa di tong taai jit.Yes, the soup was too hot just now.
- 家明 Ka Ming快啲飲啲凍水，對條脷好啲。faai di jam di dong seui, deui tiu lei hou di.Drink some cold water quickly, it'll be better for your tongue.
- 美玲 Mei Ling多謝你，家明。do ze nei, Ka Ming.Thank you, Ka Ming.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tongue” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
