sik1 zi6識字识字
Jyutpingsik1 zi6
Yalesīk jih
Definition
To be literate; to know how to read and write.
neutralschooldaily actions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the cognitive ability to recognize written characters rather than general education or schooling. While it implies literacy, it is often used when discussing the developmental milestone of a child beginning to identify words on a page. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe adult literacy, where people might instead use phrases like 讀過書 or 識睇字.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 識睇字, which is the more common way to say someone is literate or can read text in daily life. 識字 often carries a slightly more formal or developmental nuance, whereas 識睇字 is the standard way to describe the functional ability to read.
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.
