baa1 sin1巴仙
Jyutpingbaa1 sin1
Yalebā sīn
Definition
Percent
colloquialnumbers
How it's used
Borrowed directly from the English word percent, this term is widely understood and used in casual speech. While written Cantonese often uses 百分之 or 百分比, speakers frequently opt for 巴仙 in spoken contexts to sound more natural or informal. It is particularly common when discussing interest rates, discounts, or statistical probabilities in daily life.
Examples
What percentage chance does this plan have of succeeding?
The price increase was five percent, it is really expensive.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal written reports or academic settings, where 百分比 is the standard term. Also, note that it is strictly a noun and cannot be used as a verb or an adjective in the same way some English speakers might use percent.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
