caa4 bui1茶杯
Jyutpingcaa4 bui1
Yalechàh būi
Definition
Teacup; a cup used for drinking tea.
colloquialfooddrink
How it's used
While 茶杯 specifically refers to a teacup, it is often used interchangeably with 杯 in casual settings when the context of drinking tea is already established. Using 隻 as a measure word is more common and natural than 個 for smaller, delicate items like teacups in Cantonese. It is frequently associated with the ritual of yum cha where small, handleless cups are the standard.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Could you please bring the teacup over to me?
There are a lot of tea stains inside this teacup.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 茶杯 with 茶壺, which is the teapot. Remember that the cup is for drinking, while the pot is for brewing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
