ji5 zai2耳仔
Jyutpingji5 zai2
Yaleyíh jái
Definition
An ear of a person or animal.
colloquialbody
How it's used
Adding the diminutive suffix 仔 to body parts is a hallmark of Cantonese, turning formal terms into everyday, natural speech. While 耳 is the formal or written term, 耳仔 is almost exclusively used in spoken contexts to refer to the physical organ. It carries a slightly more informal and intimate tone, making it the standard choice for talking about people or animals in daily life.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
His ears are very sharp, he can hear even the slightest sound.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 耳仔 when referring to the handle of a cup or a loop on a bag, even though they look like ears. In those cases, use 耳 or specifically describe the object, as 耳仔 is reserved for the biological organ.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
