maan6 zi6 gaap2萬字夾万字夹
Jyutpingmaan6 zi6 gaap2
Yalemaahn jih gáap
Definition
Paper clip; a bendable wire or plastic clip used to hold sheets of paper together temporarily.
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How it's used
The term is a direct loan translation from English, specifically referring to the shape of the character 萬 which resembles the classic wire paper clip. While it is the standard term for the object, younger generations sometimes use the English word directly in casual office settings. It is strictly used for the wire-style clip and not for larger binder clips.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Do you have any paper clips on your desk?
I will use a paper clip to hold the documents together first.
Related words
Common phrases
use a paper clip
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 夾子, which is a generic term for any type of clip or tongs. Using 萬字夾 for a large plastic or heavy-duty binder clip sounds unnatural, as those are typically called 鐵夾 or 燕尾夾.
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.
