faai3 zi2筷子
Jyutpingfaai3 zi2
Yalefaai jí
Definition
Chopsticks.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
While standard Mandarin uses 雙 as the primary measure word for chopsticks, Cantonese speakers frequently use 枝 or 對 interchangeably in casual settings. When referring to a single stick, 枝 is used, but for the pair, both 對 and 雙 are common, with 對 often feeling slightly more natural in everyday speech.
Measure word
deoi3對deuiExamples
Do you know how to use chopsticks to pick up food?
I forgot to take the chopsticks out.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 隻 as a measure word for a pair of chopsticks, as it usually refers to a single item or one of a pair. If you are holding only one stick, use 枝, but never use 隻 to describe the pair.
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).
