zai3掣
Jyutpingzai3
Yalejai
Definition
A button, switch, or controller used to operate a machine.
colloquialtechnologydaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to physical buttons or switches on machines and appliances. It is common to use the verb 撳 before it when describing the action of pushing a button. While it can mean a switch, it is distinct from the more general term 開關 which focuses on the state of being on or off.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Which switch is for turning off the lights?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 掣肘, which is a formal term meaning to be held back or restricted by someone else. Beginners sometimes mistake the latter for a literal physical switch.
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.
