zi6寺
Jyutpingzi6
Yalejih
Definition
A variant pronunciation of 寺 (zi6) used in certain collocations.
neutralplaces
How it's used
The character 寺 is almost exclusively used in compound words related to religious sites. In standard Cantonese, it is consistently read as zi6, which aligns with its literary reading in most Sino-Xenic contexts. It rarely appears as a standalone noun in casual speech, where people prefer using more specific terms like 廟.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
This temple is very famous.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 寺 with 侍, as they share a similar phonetic component but have distinct meanings and usages. Ensure you do not use 寺 to describe general shrines or non-Buddhist places of worship, as it carries a specific connotation of a Buddhist monastery or temple.
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.
