sau2 gan1 zai2手巾仔
Jyutpingsau2 gan1 zai2
Yalesáu gān jái
Definition
Handkerchief; a small towel or hankie.
colloquialclothingdaily actions
How it's used
The suffix 仔 adds a sense of smallness and intimacy, which is standard for personal items like this. While modern Hong Kongers often use tissues, this term remains common for cloth handkerchiefs used by older generations or for specific activities like sports.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
He took out his handkerchief to wipe away sweat.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 抹手紙, which refers to paper hand towels found in public restrooms. Using 仔 implies a small, personal cloth item, not a disposable paper product.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
