caap3鍤锸
Jyutpingcaap3
Yalechaap
Definition
A spade or shovel; a marking pin.
writtenother
How it's used
Refers specifically to a digging tool or a spade, though it is increasingly rare in modern urban Hong Kong Cantonese. Most people now use the loanword 鏟 or 鏟泥工具 to describe this object. It is more likely to be encountered in formal writing or specific agricultural contexts rather than casual conversation.
Measure word
baa2把báExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 插, which is a verb meaning to insert or plug in. While they share a similar shape in some contexts, 鍤 is strictly a noun for the tool.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
