cau1 cim1抽簽抽签
Jyutpingcau1 cim1
Yalechāu chīm
Definition
To draw lots.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This term is commonly used in both formal and informal settings, such as deciding the order of presentations or allocating limited resources. It implies a fair and random selection process where luck plays the primary role. People often use it as a verb phrase, where the second character can be separated by aspect markers like 抽咗簽.
Examples
We decided to use drawing lots to divide into groups.
Related words
Common phrases
decide by drawing lots
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 抽獎, which specifically refers to a lucky draw or a raffle where prizes are involved. Use 抽簽 for decision-making or selection, and 抽獎 for winning prizes.
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).



