zaam6 dou1鏨刀錾刀
Jyutpingzaam6 dou1
Yalejaahm dōu
Definition
Carving tool; a knife or chisel used for engraving or carving.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to chisels or gouges used for carving hard materials like wood or stone. While it is a standard term for professional or hobbyist tools, it is rarely used in casual daily conversation unless someone is actively engaged in crafts or carpentry. The term implies a tool with a sturdy, often metal, blade designed for striking or gouging rather than simple cutting.
Measure word
baa2把báExamples
This set of carving tools is very sharp, be careful not to cut your hands.
Where did you put the carving tool you found?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general purpose knives like 刀 or 鎅刀, which are for slicing or cutting paper. Using 鏨刀 to describe a kitchen knife or a utility knife will sound confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



