zaap6 fo3雜貨杂货
Jyutpingzaap6 fo3
Yalejaahp fo
Definition
Groceries, sundries, and everyday household items.
colloquialfoodshopping
How it's used
Refers specifically to small, independent shops that sell a wide variety of household necessities rather than large supermarkets. While modern chain stores have largely replaced them, the term remains deeply associated with the traditional neighborhood shop culture. It is rarely used to describe the goods themselves in a modern context, functioning primarily as part of the compound for the shop itself.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
The things sold in this grocery store are very comprehensive.
Related words
Common phrases
grocery store
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 超市, which refers to modern supermarkets. Using 雜貨 to describe a large, modern grocery store sounds outdated or inaccurate to a local speaker.
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.
