Cantonese/Lesson 5

Introduction to measuring words Unlike English, measuring words are needed when you need to say an object. For example we only need to say a book in English, but in Cantonese, when have to put a measuring word in front of the object, like 一本書. Here is a table of some measuring words: Measuring word Pronunciation When to use Example 本 bun2 a flat object, but not very thin Book書 個 go3 an irregular object Apple蘋果, orange橙 塊 faai3 an irregular, flatten object cookie曲奇餅 張 zoeng1 a very thin and flat object paper紙, ticket飛 隻 zek3 an animal that is not flat; non-elongated object chicken雞, cow牛, egg雞蛋, watch錶 條 tiu4 an animal that is flat; an elongated object fish魚, crocodile鱷魚, rope繩, belt皮帶, trousers褲, straw飲管 部 bou6 machine computer電腦 對 deoi3 pair of shoes鞋, socks襪 (NOT trousers) 座 zo6 building high-rise building大廈, tower塔 嚿（正字係䊆) gau6 A piece of Use for wood 木, rice 飯 etc. Practice Imagine you are doing shopping and need to get some grocery from a shopkeeper. Study the following dialogues and make your own version with the above examples of measuring words: 店員：你想買乜嘢？ 我：我想買一隻雞。 Translation: Shopkeeper: What would you like? Me: I want to buy a chicken.