ung3 gong1甕缸瓮缸
Jyutpingung3 gong1
Yaleung gōng
Definition
An urn or large earthenware jar, typically with a wide body, narrower base and opening, and significant depth.
colloquialhomefood
How it's used
Traditionally associated with preserving food like pickled vegetables or storing water, this term refers specifically to a heavy, wide-bellied ceramic container. It is rarely used for modern plastic or metal storage vessels, which are usually referred to as 桶 or 罐. The word carries a rustic, old-fashioned feel and is often linked to traditional kitchen practices or rural life.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
This old urn is perfect for storing water.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 缸, which is a more generic term for any large basin or tank. 甕缸 specifically implies a shape with a narrow opening and a wider, rounded body, whereas 缸 can refer to flat, open-topped containers like fish tanks or industrial vats.
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.
