sau2 paak3手帕
Jyutpingsau2 paak3
Yalesáu paak
Definition
Handkerchief.
colloquialdaily actionsclothing
How it's used
While 手帕 is understood, native speakers almost exclusively use 手巾 in daily life for a handkerchief. It is common to see it used for both small cloth handkerchiefs and larger towels, so context is key. If you specifically mean a small pocket-sized cloth, adding the word 細 before it helps clarify.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhRelated words
Common phrases
a handkerchief
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 手巾 with 抹手紙, which refers specifically to paper towels. Using 手巾 implies a reusable cloth item, whereas 抹手紙 is disposable.
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.
