hou4 zi2毫子
Jyutpinghou4 zi2
Yalehòuh jí
Definition
Ten-cent coin or unit of ten cents in currency.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to the ten-cent coin or the denomination of ten cents in spoken Cantonese. While the formal term is 毫, speakers almost always add 子 to make it a disyllabic noun. It is common to hear people use it when counting small change or discussing low-cost items.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Do you still have some ten-cent coins for the bus?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the unit of currency itself, as it is strictly a colloquial term for the ten-cent denomination. It is never used to refer to dollars or larger amounts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
