ham2砍
Jyutpingham2
Yalehám
Definition
To chop or hack; to cut something with a sharp tool using strong force.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 砍 is understood in Cantonese, it is often perceived as having a Mandarin influence or a more literary feel. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people overwhelmingly prefer using 劈 to describe the action of chopping or hacking with force. Using 劈 sounds much more natural and idiomatic in a local context.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 砍 because it is the standard term in Mandarin, but using it in casual conversation can make your speech sound slightly stiff or foreign. Stick to 劈 for most physical chopping actions.
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.
