si5 cing3市秤
Jyutpingsi5 cing3
Yalesíh ching
Definition
A market scale; a traditional Chinese steelyard scale used in marketplaces.
colloquialshopping
How it's used
Traditional market scales are increasingly rare in modern Hong Kong supermarkets, which almost exclusively use digital electronic scales. You will mostly encounter these at traditional wet markets or older, family-run grocery stores. The term specifically refers to the classic balance scale design rather than modern weighing equipment.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with electronic scales, which are simply called 電子磅. Using the term 市秤 for a modern digital scale will sound confusing or outdated to local speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
