laap6 zuk1蠟燭蜡烛

Jyutpinglaap6 zuk1

Yalelaahp jūk

名詞Common

Definition

Candle; a device made of wax with a central wick that burns to provide light.

neutralhomefestival

How it's used

Candles are primarily associated with birthday celebrations or emergency lighting during power outages in Hong Kong. The verb used for lighting a candle is 點, which is distinct from the general word for burning or igniting, 燒. When referring to the act of blowing out candles on a cake, the specific verb 吹 is used.

Measure word

zi1枝jī

Examples

ting4停din6電go2嗰zan6陣，ngo5我dei6哋dim2點zo2咗gei2幾zi1枝laap6蠟zuk1燭。

When the power went out, we lit a few candles.

nei5你saang1生jat6日daan6蛋gou1糕soeng6上min6面jiu3要caap3插gei2幾do1多zi1枝laap6蠟zuk1燭aa4呀？

How many candles do you want to put on your birthday cake?

Common phrases

dim2點laap6蠟zuk1燭

to light a candle

ceoi1吹laap6蠟zuk1燭

to blow out candles

Common mistake

Learners often confuse the measure word for candles with that of other long, thin objects. While 枝 is the standard classifier, some speakers might use 條 in very casual speech, but 枝 remains the most appropriate and common choice.