laam4 kau4籃球篮球
Jyutpinglaam4 kau4
Yalelàahm kàuh
Definition
Basketball, referring to both the sport and the ball itself.
- basketball (the sport)
- basketball (the ball used in the game)
neutralsports
How it's used
Refers specifically to the sport itself, whereas the physical object used to play is called a 籃球波. When talking about playing the game, the verb 打 is always used regardless of the specific format or number of players involved. It is common to hear people use the English loanword basketball in casual speech, but 籃球 remains the standard term in both formal and informal contexts.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
Are you free to play basketball tomorrow?
He loves watching basketball games and never misses a single match.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the sport with the ball itself. Remember that if you are talking about the physical object you hold in your hands, you should add 波 to the end to be clear.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
