fai3 zi2廢紙废纸
Jyutpingfai3 zi2
Yalefai jí
Definition
Waste paper; used or useless writing or printing paper.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Refers specifically to paper that has been written on or printed, rather than general trash or packaging materials. It is frequently used in the context of recycling or clearing out clutter from a desk or office. When someone calls a document or a person's ideas 廢紙, it carries a strong dismissive tone implying that the content is completely worthless.
Measure word
zoeng1張jēungExamples
Where should I put this waste paper for recycling?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to cardboard boxes or wrapping paper, as those are typically called 紙皮 or 包裝紙. Using it for any random scrap of paper can sound slightly unnatural if the context clearly implies packaging.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
