hei3器
Jyutpinghei3
Yalehei
Definition
A collective term for utensils, ware, vessels, or instruments.
neutraldaily actionsother
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in compound words rather than as a standalone noun in daily speech. It carries a sense of formal or technical classification for objects, often appearing in compound nouns related to manufacturing or specific functional categories. When referring to everyday household items, speakers typically prefer more specific terms like 嘢 or 用具.
Examples
Do you have any more cooking utensils at home?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it as a standalone word for any object or tool, but it sounds unnatural and overly formal in that context. Always combine it with other characters to form a specific noun like 容器 or 樂器.
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.
