zi1芝
Jyutpingzi1
Yalejī
Definition
Short form for cheese.
colloquialfood
How it's used
This character acts strictly as a prefix or morpheme derived from the English word cheese. It never functions as a standalone noun in Cantonese, so always ensure it is attached to another noun to form a compound word. It is most commonly encountered in marketing or menu items to keep names punchy and concise.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly try to use this as a standalone word for cheese, but it will sound nonsensical to native speakers. Always use the full form 芝士 when referring to the food item itself.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
