zuk1 gou1竹篙
Jyutpingzuk1 gou1
Yalejūk gōu
Definition
Bamboo pole
colloquialhomedaily actions
How it's used
Bamboo poles are still a common sight in older residential buildings in Hong Kong for drying clothes outside windows. While modern retractable drying racks are replacing them, the term remains deeply embedded in local culture and idioms. It carries a rustic, traditional feel compared to modern materials like metal or plastic poles.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
He is holding a bamboo pole to hang the laundry.
Can you help me bring that bamboo pole over here?
Related words
Common phrases
to paint everyone with the same brush
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with standard Mandarin terms for poles, as 竹篙 is specifically associated with the long, thin bamboo variety used for laundry or boating in Cantonese regions.
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.
