kau3釦
Jyutpingkau3
Yalekau
Definition
Button or buckle on clothing.
colloquialclothing
How it's used
People often use 釦 to refer specifically to buttons on clothing, though it can also describe fasteners or buckles on bags and accessories. When referring to the act of fastening, it is common to use the verb 扣. Note that while 鈕 is also used for button, 釦 is frequently preferred in casual speech for the physical object itself.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
A button fell off this shirt, could you sew it back on for me?
The button on your jacket is very nice, where did you buy it?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 釦 with 扣. Remember that 釦 is the noun for the button or fastener, while 扣 is the verb meaning to fasten or buckle something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
