fo2 zyun3火鑽火钻
Jyutpingfo2 zyun3
Yalefó jyun
Definition
Ruby or diamond.
- datedruby
- dateddiamond
colloquialshoppingdescriptions
How it's used
Refers specifically to diamonds in everyday Cantonese, despite the literal meaning containing the character for fire. It is a classic example of how Cantonese vocabulary often retains older or more descriptive terms that differ from the standard Mandarin term 鑽石. Using this word adds a local, slightly more traditional flavor to your speech compared to the more common loan-influenced term.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
He gave a diamond ring to his girlfriend.
This diamond is so big, it must be very expensive, right?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the actual word for ruby, which is 紅寶石. While the character 火 suggests red, it functions here as a descriptor for the fire-like brilliance of a diamond.
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.
