gung1 geoi6工具
Jyutpinggung1 geoi6
Yalegūng geuih
Definition
Tool; instrument; utensil used to perform a task or do work.
neutralworkdaily actions
How it's used
Refers broadly to physical implements used to perform a task, but it is also frequently used metaphorically to describe people or abstract methods. When referring to someone as a tool, it implies they are being used by others for a specific purpose, often with a negative or dismissive connotation. In professional settings, it is the standard term for software or digital applications as well.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
Do you have tools like a screwdriver at home?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to refer to household appliances like a fridge or microwave, which are better described as 電器. Using it for large machinery or heavy industrial equipment can also sound slightly unnatural; consider using 機器 instead.
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.
