sau2 gan1手巾
Jyutpingsau2 gan1
Yalesáu gān
Definition
Handkerchief; a small piece of cloth carried for wiping the face, mouth, head, or hands.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Refers specifically to a small piece of cloth for personal hygiene, distinct from a paper tissue. While younger generations often use paper tissues instead, the term remains standard for the cloth variety. It is common to carry one for wiping sweat or cleaning hands in humid weather.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Do you have a handkerchief in your pocket?
Remember to take out the handkerchief after wiping your mouth.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a towel, which is called 巾 or 毛巾. Using 手巾 to refer to a large bath towel will sound confusing 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.
