baa1 saat3巴剎巴刹
Jyutpingbaa1 saat3
Yalebā saat
Definition
Market, especially for groceries, from the Malay word "pasar".
colloquialfoodplaces
How it's used
巴剎 is primarily used in Southeast Asian Cantonese communities, such as in Malaysia and Singapore, rather than in Hong Kong. While it functions exactly like 街市, using it in Hong Kong might confuse locals who are unfamiliar with the Malay loanword. It is a perfect example of how Cantonese vocabulary can diverge significantly based on the region.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I need to go to the market later to buy some fresh vegetables.
Where is there a market nearby?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word in Hong Kong as it is not part of the local lexicon. Stick to 街市 for wet markets or 超市 for supermarkets to ensure you are understood.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
