zaam2 maa5 dou1斬馬刀斩马刀
Jyutpingzaam2 maa5 dou1
Yalejáam máh dōu
Definition
A type of traditional Chinese sword with a long blade, or a long chopping knife.
neutralother
How it's used
Historically, this refers to a long-handled weapon designed for cavalry combat, but it is rarely encountered outside of historical fiction, martial arts films, or gaming contexts. Unlike common household knives, it carries a sense of ancient warfare and extreme size. It is not a term used for modern kitchen tools.
Measure word
baa2把báExamples
Related words
Common phrases
wielding a zanmadao
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a standard kitchen cleaver, which is called 菜刀. Using this term to describe a normal knife will sound bizarre or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
