baak6 zi6白字
Jyutpingbaak6 zi6
Yalebaahk jih
Definition
White character, or a miswritten or mispronounced Chinese character.
- a white character on a dark background
- a miswritten, wrongly used, or mispronounced character
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How it's used
Refers specifically to characters that are written incorrectly, often because they sound the same as the intended character. It is the standard term used in school and professional settings to point out spelling mistakes in written Chinese. While it literally translates to white character, it carries no connotation of the color white.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
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Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 錯別字, which is a broader category. In Cantonese, 白字 specifically highlights the error of using a homophone instead of the correct character.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
