zoeng6杖
Jyutpingzoeng6
Yalejeuhng
Definition
Cane, walking stick, or staff.
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How it's used
杖 is a formal or literary character that is rarely used on its own in spoken Cantonese. Most people prefer the more common term 棍 or the specific compound 拐杖 when referring to a walking stick. Using 杖 in casual conversation can sound slightly archaic or overly dramatic.
Measure word
zi1枝jīExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 杖 with 仗, which refers to military battles or reliance on someone. Ensure you use the radical for wood, 木, to correctly indicate a physical stick or cane.
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.
