Body Parts in Cantonese
Body parts are core beginner vocabulary, and most are single syllables: 頭 (tau4, head), 手 (sau2, hand), 腳 (goek3, foot). Ear takes the affectionate 仔 suffix — 耳仔 (ji5 zai2) — and note that 手 covers both hand and arm, while 腳 covers foot and leg. Audio and Jyutping for each word below.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say hand and foot in Cantonese?
手 (sau2) and 腳 (goek3) — and each covers more than in English: 手 means hand or the whole arm, 腳 foot or the whole leg. Context does the rest.
Why is ear 耳仔 (ji5 zai2) in Cantonese?
Spoken Cantonese adds the diminutive 仔 (zai2, "little") to some body parts and everyday nouns — the same 仔 you see in 雀仔 (bird). On its own, 耳 rarely appears in speech.
How do you say hair in Cantonese?
頭髮 (tau4 faat3) — literally "head hair". To say your head hurts, use 痛 (tung3): 頭痛 (tau4 tung3), headache.