baak3 fo3百貨百货

Jyutpingbaak3 fo3

Yalebaak fo

名詞Uncommon

Definition

General merchandise; a collective term for daily necessities and consumer goods.

neutralshoppingplaces

How it's used

Usage is almost exclusively restricted to the compound 百貨公司 when referring to a physical retail establishment. Outside of this specific context, the term functions as a broad, somewhat formal category for general household goods rather than a word used to describe individual items. It carries a slightly nostalgic or traditional feel compared to modern terms for shopping malls or supermarkets.

Measure word

gaan1間gān

Examples

le1呢gaan1間baak3百fo3貨gung1公si1司hou2好daai6大aa4呀。

This department store is very big.

nei5你喺hai2百baak3貨fo3公gung1司si1買maai5咗zo2咩me1呀？

What did you buy at the department store?

Common phrases

baak3百fo3貨gung1公si1司

department store

baak3百fo3貨daai6大lau4樓

large department store building

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 百貨 to refer to a general store or a supermarket, but it specifically implies a large-scale department store. For smaller shops selling daily necessities, use 士多 or 超市 instead.