ngan4 zi2銀紙银纸
Jyutpingngan4 zi2
Yalengàhn jí
Definition
Banknotes, paper money, or cash in general.
- banknote; paper money; bills
- money; cash
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to paper currency rather than coins, which are called 銀仔. While it literally translates to silver paper, it is the standard term for any denomination of banknote regardless of the material. It is frequently used interchangeably with the generic term 錢 when referring to cash on hand.
Measure word
zoeng1張jēungExamples
Do you still have any banknotes in your wallet?
He took a hundred-dollar note to go shopping.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 銀仔, which refers exclusively to coins. Using 銀紙 to describe a handful of coins will sound incorrect to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
