gung1 gan1公斤
Jyutpinggung1 gan1
Yalegūng gān
Definition
Kilogram; the base unit of mass in the International System of Units, equal to one thousand grams.
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How it's used
While 公斤 is the standard term for kilogram in daily life, you will frequently hear people use 磅 when buying groceries at traditional markets. Using 公斤 is more common in formal contexts, supermarkets, or when discussing scientific measurements. It is interchangeable with 千克, though the latter is almost exclusively used in technical or academic writing.
Examples
How many kilograms is this bag of apples?
I bought two kilograms of beef to take home.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 公斤 with 公斤重 when referring to weight, as the latter is redundant in Cantonese. Also, be aware that many older generations still prefer using 斤, which refers to the local catty, equivalent to approximately 600 grams, rather than the international kilogram.
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.
