saan1 fo3山貨山货
Definition
Household goods made from natural materials such as rattan, straw, bamboo, or hemp.
How it's used
Historically, this term referred to goods sourced from mountainous regions, but it has evolved to specifically describe traditional household items crafted from natural materials like bamboo, rattan, and straw. While these items were once essential in every home, they are now often associated with nostalgic, old fashioned, or artisanal kitchenware and storage tools. You will mostly encounter this word in the names of traditional hardware stores that have survived the modernization of Hong Kong retail.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general mountain products or outdoor gear. It is a specific category of traditional craft goods and is not used to describe modern camping equipment or hiking supplies.
Grammar color guide
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.
