laang5冷
Jyutpinglaang5
Yaleláahng
Definition
Knitting yarn or woollen yarn.
colloquialclothingdaily actions
How it's used
Originating from the French word laine, this term is exclusively used for knitting yarn. It is a classic example of a loanword that has become completely integrated into daily Cantonese vocabulary. While younger generations might occasionally use the Mandarin-influenced term 毛線, using 冷 remains the most authentic and common way to refer to yarn in Hong Kong.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
This yarn is very soft, it is perfect for knitting a scarf.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the adjective 冷, which means cold. The context of knitting or clothing usually makes it clear, but beginners often misinterpret sentences involving knitting as being related to temperature.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
