mo1 tok3摩托
Jyutpingmo1 tok3
Yalemō tok
Definition
Motor or motorcycle.
- motor; an electrical machine that converts electricity into rotational energy
- motorcycle; motorbike
colloquialtransport
How it's used
While 摩托 is a direct phonetic loan from English, it is significantly less common in daily Hong Kong speech than 電單車. Using 摩托 often sounds slightly more formal or influenced by Mandarin, whereas 電單車 is the standard term used by locals in almost all contexts. You will mostly encounter this term in older literature or specific technical contexts rather than casual street conversation.
Measure word
gaa3架gaExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where 摩托 is the standard term for a motorcycle. In Hong Kong, if you say 摩托, people will understand you, but they will immediately identify you as someone who does not speak native Hong Kong Cantonese.
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.
