zai1齏齑
Jyutpingzai1
Yalejāi
Definition
Finely chopped meat, vegetables, or condiments, or things cut into small pieces.
writtenfooddescriptions
How it's used
Literary in origin, this character is rarely encountered in modern spoken Cantonese except in specific culinary contexts or when describing something crushed into tiny fragments. It carries a sense of extreme fragmentation, often implying that the original form of the object is no longer recognizable. While technically accurate for mincing, most speakers prefer using descriptive phrases like 切碎 or 剁爛 in everyday conversation.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is primarily used as a noun or a resultative state. Using it as a standard verb like 切 or 剁 will sound unnatural and overly formal to native speakers.
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.
