sik6 zi6食字
Jyutpingsik6 zi6
Yalesihk jih
Definition
To make a pun; to play with words homophonically for rhetorical effect.
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Puns are a cornerstone of Hong Kong humor and marketing, often relying on the tonal similarities between characters that sound identical but have different meanings. It is frequently employed in tabloid headlines and shop names to create a witty or memorable effect. When explaining a pun to someone, you would typically say 呢個名有食字.
Examples
This ad slogan loves using puns, it leaves a deep impression after reading.
Do you know this name is actually a pun? It sounds really funny when you say it out loud.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake any kind of wordplay for 食字, but it specifically refers to homophonic puns where characters sound the same or very similar. It does not cover general metaphors or irony.
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.
