ngaam4 sek6巖石岩石
Jyutpingngaam4 sek6
Yalengàahm sehk
Definition
Rock.
neutralnature
How it's used
While 巖石 is the standard term for rock in a geological sense, it is rarely used in daily conversation to describe small, loose stones. For everyday objects found on the ground, people almost exclusively use 石頭. Use 巖石 when referring to large, solid rock formations or in scientific contexts.
Measure word
gau6嚿gauhExamples
There are many large rocks on this mountain.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 巖石 for any small stone they find on the street, which sounds unnatural. Use 石頭 for general stones and rocks, and reserve 巖石 for massive, stationary geological features.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
