Cantonese Measure Words
Cantonese does not say "two coffees" — it says two cup coffee. That middle word is a measure word (classifier), and every noun has one it prefers. Learning the dozen most common ones covers most of what you will ever need to say.
Make these words stick
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Frequently asked questions
What is a measure word in Cantonese?
A word that sits between a number and a noun, like the "cup" in two cups of coffee: 兩杯咖啡 (loeng5 bui1 gaa3 fe1). Cantonese requires one for every counted noun.
Which measure word should I use if I am not sure?
Use 個 (go3). It is the default and will be understood, even where a more specific measure word would be more natural.
Do measure words differ between Cantonese and Mandarin?
Often yes. Cantonese uses 隻 (zek3) and 架 (gaa3) far more widely, and 樽 (zeon1) for bottles where Mandarin uses 瓶.
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