zung1 cyu2舂杵
Jyutpingzung1 cyu2
Yalejūng chyú
Definition
Pestle; a heavy tool used for pounding rice.
colloquialfoodhome
How it's used
Refers specifically to the heavy tool used for pounding ingredients in a mortar. While historically associated with milling rice, it is now used for any kitchen task involving crushing herbs or spices. It is a very specific, traditional household item that is becoming less common in modern urban kitchens.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the verb 舂, which means to pound or ram something. Learners sometimes mistakenly use the verb as a noun, but the tool itself requires the full compound 舂杵.
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.
