zaau2找
Jyutpingzaau2
Yalejáau
Definition
To give back change; to return the excess money after receiving a payment.
colloquialmoneydaily actions
How it's used
Use this verb specifically when referring to the act of returning the surplus money after a transaction. It is almost always paired with the directional particle 返 to emphasize the return of the money to the customer. While it functions as a standard verb, it is rarely used in formal written contexts where terms like 找贖 are preferred.
Examples
Can you help me check if the change is correct?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where 找 can mean to look for something. In Cantonese, the verb for looking for something is 搵.
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.
