sin1 si2仙屎
Jyutpingsin1 si2
Yalesīn sí
Definition
Cents; a small unit of currency.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Derived from the English word cents, this term is used exclusively when referring to the fractional currency units of the Hong Kong dollar. It is almost always used in casual, spoken contexts rather than formal financial reporting. You will frequently hear it when discussing small change or precise pricing.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Cantonese word for fairy, which is also written as 仙, or the word for excrement, which is written as 屎. While the pronunciation of the two characters together sounds like the English word, it is a colloquial loanword and should not be used in formal writing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
