daam1擔担
Jyutpingdaam1
Yaledāam
Definition
Picul; a unit of weight equal to 100 catties, representing the typical load carried on a shoulder pole.
colloquialnumbersdaily actions
How it's used
Originally a unit of weight equivalent to one hundred 斤, the term has evolved to describe the maximum load a person can comfortably carry on a shoulder pole. It is now frequently used as a general quantifier for heavy, bulky loads that require significant physical effort to transport. In modern contexts, it often emphasizes the sheer volume or weight of an object rather than a precise mathematical measurement.
Examples
He carried a whole picul of rice by himself, he is so strong.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the noun 擔 with the verb 擔, which means to carry on the shoulder. While they share the same character, the noun refers to the specific weight or load, whereas the verb describes the action of carrying.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
