zou2棗枣
Jyutpingzou2
Yalejóu
Definition
Jujube; a type of red fruit commonly known as the Chinese date.
neutralfood
How it's used
Red dates are deeply embedded in traditional Chinese culture, often appearing in soups, desserts, and wedding ceremonies to symbolize prosperity and fertility. They are almost exclusively referred to as 紅棗 in a culinary context, with the simple character 棗 rarely used on its own in speech.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
How many red dates did you buy to take home?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 棗 with 蘋果 or other round fruits, but remember that 棗 is specifically used for dried or fresh jujubes, not generic fruits.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
