jat1 soeng1 haai4一雙鞋一双鞋
Jyutpingjat1 soeng1 haai4
Yaleyāt sēung hàaih
Definition
A pair of shoes.
neutralclothing
How it's used
While 一雙鞋 is grammatically correct, Cantonese speakers overwhelmingly prefer using 對 as the measure word for shoes. Using 雙 often sounds more formal or literary, similar to how one might use it in written Chinese. In daily life, you will almost exclusively hear 呢對鞋 or 嗰對鞋.
Measure word
deoi3對deuiExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 雙 because it is the direct translation of pair, but it sounds unnatural in casual conversation. Always use 對 for footwear to sound like a local.
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.
