ling4 gu1零沽
Jyutpingling4 gu1
Yalelìhng gū
Definition
To sell or buy in small quantities; retail.
colloquialmoneyshopping
How it's used
While 零售 is the standard term used in formal business contexts and signage, 零沽 is a more traditional term often heard in older markets or among small business owners. It carries a slightly more localized, old-school feel compared to the modern, professional sound of 零售. You will rarely see it on a corporate invoice, but it remains perfectly understood in daily trade.
Examples
This shop specializes in retail business.
Do you want wholesale or retail?
Related words
Common phrases
retail business
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 零售, which is the much more common term in modern Hong Kong. Using 零沽 in a formal business presentation might sound slightly dated or overly colloquial, so stick to 零售 for professional settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
