jat1 lap1 san2一粒臣
Jyutpingjat1 lap1 san2
Yaleyāt lāp sán
Definition
Ten Hong Kong cents; a ten-cent coin.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to the ten-cent coin in Hong Kong currency. The term originates from the English word cent, which was phonetically adapted into Cantonese. While widely understood by older generations and those familiar with local slang, it is becoming less common among younger speakers who prefer using the standard word毫子.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpRelated words
Common phrases
a few ten-cent coins
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the English word citizen or other similar sounding terms, as it is strictly a colloquialism for currency. It is also not used for any other denomination, such as twenty-cent or fifty-cent coins.
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.
