bo1 zi2波子
Jyutpingbo1 zi2
Yalebō jí
Definition
Marbles; small toy balls made of glass or plastic.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the small glass spheres used in children's games, rather than any generic ball. While the term is widely understood, younger generations may use it less frequently as digital games have replaced traditional street play. It carries a nostalgic tone, often evoking memories of childhood pastimes in local playgrounds.
Measure word
lap1粒lāpExamples
When I was little, I really liked playing marbles with my friends.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the English loanword 波, which refers to a ball of any size, such as a football or basketball. Using 波子 to describe a sports ball will sound incorrect or confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
