糖果
tong4 gwo2
The English phrase "candy" is translated into Cantonese as 糖果 (tong4 gwo2).
糖果 is used to refer to the general class of confectionery or candy. In everyday spoken Cantonese, the term is frequently shortened to 糖 when referring to candy.
Meaning: piece of candy (noun)
Which one should you use?
糖果 is the formal or written term for candy, while 糖 is the more common version used in casual, daily speech. Note that 糖 can also mean "sugar" depending on the context.
How do you pronounce it?
tong4 gwo2
Did you know?
- The word 果 in 糖果 actually means 'fruit'. This creates a linguistic connection between sweets and fruit that doesn't exist in the English word 'candy'.
- The word 糖 is also used in many medical terms in Cantonese to refer to 'diabetes', specifically the term 糖尿病, which literally translates to 'sugar urine disease'.
- In Cantonese, the word 糖 is used in the term 糖水 to describe a wide category of traditional sweet dessert soups and puddings.
Examples in context
- 要唔要糖?Do you want candy?
- 试下呢啲糖Try these candies.
Example conversation
Two friends are sharing snacks in a park.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan子健，你有冇糖果？zi2 gin6, nei5 jau5 mou5 tong4 gwo2?Zijian, do you have any candy?
- 子健 Tsz Kin有啊，你要邊種？jau5 aa3, nei5 jiu3 bin1 zung2?Yes, which kind do you want?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我想試嗰粒紅色糖果。ngo5 soeng2 si3 go2 lap1 hung4 sik1 tong4 gwo2.I want to try that red candy.
- 子健 Tsz Kin好，攞去啦。hou2, lo2 heoi3 laa1.Okay, take it.
