can3 saam1襯衫衬衫
Jyutpingcan3 saam1
Yalechan sāam
Definition
Shirt; a western upper-body garment with a collar, sleeves, and a button-down front.
colloquialclothing
How it's used
Refers specifically to a button down shirt with a collar, distinguishing it from a generic t-shirt or sweater. While it can be used for both men's and women's styles, it is most commonly associated with formal or business attire. It is often used in combination with the verb 襯, which means to match or coordinate, creating a common pun in casual conversation.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
How many shirts did you buy to wear for work?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the general term 衫, which refers to any type of clothing or top. Using 襯衫 to describe a casual t-shirt or a hoodie will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
