dung3棟栋
Jyutpingdung3
Yaledung
Definition
Pillar or column; a vertical structural element in a building that supports weight from above.
colloquialplaces
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning as a structural pillar, this term is almost exclusively used as a measure word for buildings in modern Cantonese. It is the standard classifier for houses, apartment blocks, and skyscrapers. Using it for smaller structures like sheds or huts is less common, where 個 or 座 might be preferred.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 座. While both can be used for buildings, 棟 emphasizes the individual, vertical structure of a single building, whereas 座 often implies a larger, more massive, or grander scale construction.
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).
