zaap6 fo3 pou2雜貨舖杂货铺
Jyutpingzaap6 fo3 pou2
Yalejaahp fo póu
Definition
Grocery store; a shop selling grain, cooking oil, and general dry goods.
colloquialshoppingplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to traditional, small-scale neighborhood shops that sell dry goods, canned food, and household sundries. These shops are becoming increasingly rare in modern Hong Kong, often replaced by large supermarket chains or convenience stores. The term carries a nostalgic feel, evoking a sense of community and older, simpler times.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
The grocery store downstairs has gone out of business.
Related words
Common phrases
neighborhood grocery store
to patronize a grocery store
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a modern supermarket, which is usually referred to as 超市. Using this term for a large, modern chain store sounds outdated or inaccurate.
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).
