lik1礫砾
Jyutpinglik1
Yalelīk
Definition
Gravel or pebbles; small, water-worn stones.
neutralnatureother
How it's used
Refers specifically to small, loose stones or coarse sand found on paths or construction sites. While technically accurate, locals often use the more general term 碎石 when describing loose rocks on the ground in casual conversation. The character is rarely used in isolation in spoken Cantonese and is almost always paired with a classifier or a descriptive noun.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
The road has a lot of gravel, be careful when walking.
There is a pebble in my shoe, it is poking my sole and feels very uncomfortable.
Related words
Common phrases
gravel
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 礫石, which is a more formal or geological term. In everyday speech, simply using 碎石 or even 石仔 is much more natural than using 礫 on its own.
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).
