gaau1 faa1膠花
Jyutpinggaau1 faa1
Yalegāau fā
Definition
Plastic flower; artificial flower made from plastic.
colloquialhomeshopping
How it's used
Historically, the term carries a specific cultural weight in Hong Kong due to the plastic flower industry boom of the 1960s, which was a cornerstone of the local economy. While it literally refers to artificial flowers, it is often used to contrast with fresh flowers in terms of longevity and maintenance. It is a very common term for any synthetic floral decoration found in homes or offices.
Measure word
do2朵dóExamples
There are many plastic flowers placed here for decoration.
Do you prefer buying real flowers or plastic flowers?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 假花, which is a more general term for any artificial flower. While 膠花 specifically implies plastic construction, 假花 can refer to silk or fabric flowers as well.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.



