zuk1 cim1竹籤竹签
Jyutpingzuk1 cim1
Yalejūk chīm
Definition
Bamboo skewer or toothpick; a thin, long bamboo stick used for skewering food or cleaning teeth.
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How it's used
Primarily associated with street snacks like fishballs or siu mai, this term is essential when navigating Hong Kong's food culture. While it refers specifically to bamboo, locals often use it interchangeably for similar disposable wooden skewers found at stalls. It is rarely used for anything other than food or small craft tasks.
Measure word
zi1枝jīExamples
Can you get me a bamboo stick to pick up some fishballs?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a toothpick, which is specifically called 牙籤. Using 竹籤 for a toothpick sounds like you are trying to use a large skewer to clean your teeth.
Grammar color guide
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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.
