ming4 zi6名字
Jyutpingming4 zi6
Yalemìhng jih
Definition
Name; a term or title used to identify a person, concept, thing, or place.
neutralpeoplecommunication
How it's used
While 名字 is understood in Cantonese, it is considered a formal or written term borrowed from Mandarin. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 名 to refer to a name. Using 名字 in casual conversation can sound slightly stiff or overly literary.
Measure word
go3個goRelated words
Common mistake
Learners often use 名字 because it is the standard term in Mandarin textbooks, but it sounds unnatural in daily life. Stick to 名 for people, places, and things to sound more like a local.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
