bo1 zyu1波珠
Jyutpingbo1 zyu1
Yalebō jyū
Definition
A marble or a metal bead; also a ball bearing.
- toy marble
- ball bearing or metal bead
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to small glass spheres used as toys or decorative beads. While it can describe spherical beads on a necklace, it is most strongly associated with the classic children's game played on the ground. The term is distinct from 波, which generally refers to larger sports balls.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
Kids really like playing with marbles.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 珠仔, which is a more general term for small beads used in crafts or jewelry. Using 波珠 for a non-spherical bead or a large decorative ball would sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
