jat1 mou4 cin4一毛錢一毛钱
Jyutpingjat1 mou4 cin4
Yaleyāt mòuh chìhn
Definition
One dime; ten cents.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to the value of ten cents in Hong Kong currency, often called 一毫子 in local speech. While 一毛錢 is understood, it carries a slightly more Mandarin-influenced flavour compared to the ubiquitous local term 一毫子. It is frequently used in negative constructions to emphasize extreme stinginess or the insignificance of a small amount of money.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
stingy
Common mistake
Learners often use 一毛錢 because it sounds similar to Mandarin, but in daily Hong Kong life, 一毫子 is the standard term used by everyone from children to shopkeepers.
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.
