香港脚 (Xiāng Gǎng jiǎo) — (colloquial) athlete's foot; Hong Kong foot (fungal foot infection)

Definition

Colloquial Chinese nickname for athlete's foot (a fungal infection), literally 'Hong Kong foot' — named because British soldiers reportedly picked it up in Hong Kong's humid climate.

noun
(colloquial) athlete's footHong Kong foot (fungal foot infection)

Examples

  • 香港脚。
    Tā yīn wèi chuān shī xié dé le Xiāng Gǎng jiǎo.
    He got athlete's foot because he wore wet shoes.
  • 香港脚。
    Zhì liáo Xiāng Gǎng jiǎo de yào zài yào diàn jiù néng mǎi dào.
    You can buy medicine for athlete's foot at the pharmacy.
  • 香港脚，。
    Cháo shī tiān qì róng yì yǐn fā Xiāng Gǎng jiǎo, yào zhù yì bǎo chí jiǎo bù gān shuǎng.
    Humid weather easily triggers athlete's foot; you should keep your feet dry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

香港Hong Kong
香xiāngfragrant港gǎngharbor
偏正Modifier + head
脚jiǎofoot

'香港' names the place and '脚' the foot, giving the colloquial athlete's foot.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐriver; water
Sound part声符shēngfú
巷
巷xiàng港gǎng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

港 uses 水 (river; water) to show its meaning and 巷 to give its sound.

Open 港 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
卻
卻què腳jiǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Open 脚 →

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