lei4梨
Jyutpinglei4
Yalelèih
Definition
The citation pronunciation of the character for pear, used in certain collocations.
neutralfood
How it's used
梨 is primarily encountered as a bound morpheme in compound nouns rather than as a standalone noun in daily speech. When referring to the fruit, speakers almost exclusively use the specific variety name, such as 雪梨 for a standard pear or 鴨梨 for a Chinese pear. Using it alone can sound unnatural or overly poetic.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
This pear is very sweet.
How many pears did you buy to bring home?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 梨 as a standalone noun for any pear, but it is rarely used this way in conversational Cantonese. Always specify the type of pear to sound natural.
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.
