蘋果 / 苹果
ping⁴ gwo²
The English phrase "apple" is translated into Cantonese as 蘋果 / 苹果 (ping⁴ gwo²).
蘋果 / 苹果 refers to the fruit of the Malus domestica.
Meaning: fruit of Malus domestica (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound consisting of 蘋 (ping4) and 果 (gwo2), where 果 means fruit.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, people primarily use the term 蘋果 (ping4 gwo2) to refer to apple. The traditional character form 蘋果 is more common in Hong Kong and Macau than the simplified form 苹果.
How do you pronounce it?
ping⁴ gwo²
Did you know?
- The word 蘋果 (ping4 gwo2) sounds similar to the word for 'peace' 平安 (ping1 on1). Because of this, apples are often given as gifts during weddings or festivals to wish the recipient a peaceful life.
- While 'apple' is a single word in English, the Cantonese 蘋果 is a logical compound where the second character, 果, is also the root for the word 'result' or 'consequence'.
- The first character in 蘋果, 蘋, is a rare word on its own that refers specifically to a type of water-dwelling plant, rather than being a general prefix for fruit.
Examples in context
- 我鍾意蘋果I like apples
- 你想唔想食蘋果?Do you want an apple?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apple” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
