sat6 ci4實詞实词
Jyutpingsat6 ci4
Yalesaht chìh
Definition
Content word; a word belonging to an open class that carries lexical meaning, such as nouns and verbs.
neutralschoolcommunication
How it's used
Linguists use this term to distinguish words with clear lexical meaning from functional words like 嘅 or 咗. It highlights the open class nature of these words, meaning the language can easily generate new ones to describe new concepts or objects. It is primarily used in academic or educational contexts rather than casual conversation.
Examples
Nouns and verbs are both content words.
Related words
Common phrases
content words and function words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the term 實話, which means honest words or truth. Ensure you use the technical term 實詞 when discussing grammar.
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.
