zuk1 gon1竹竿
Jyutpingzuk1 gon1
Yalejūk gōn
Definition
Bamboo pole; a long, slender pole made from a bamboo stem.
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How it's used
Bamboo poles are a quintessential part of the Hong Kong skyline, famously used for scaffolding on construction sites and as traditional clothes drying racks extending from apartment windows. While metal poles are increasingly common, the term remains the standard way to refer to these long, slender tools regardless of the actual material. It is also frequently used as a metaphor to describe someone who is exceptionally thin or lanky.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
He is holding a bamboo pole to hang out the laundry.
Can you help me get the bamboo pole down?
Related words
Common phrases
bamboo pole for drying clothes
as thin as a bamboo pole
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 竿, which is a general character for poles or rods. When referring to the specific object used for laundry or fishing, always use the full compound 竹竿 to be clear.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
