折扣
zit³ kau³
The Cantonese word for discount is 折扣, pronounced zit³ kau³.
折扣 is a noun used to describe a reduction in price.
Meaning: reduction in price (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 折扣 refers specifically to a discount, the term 優惠 (jau1 wai6) is also used in formal contexts to refer to a discount or a special offer.
How do you pronounce it?
zit³ kau³
Did you know?
- In Cantonese shopping, discounts are expressed as the percentage you pay, not the amount taken off. If a sign says 八折, you pay 80% of the original price, which is a 20% discount.
- The term 優惠 (jau1 wai6), often used for 'special offers', contains the character 惠 (wai6), which means 'kindness' or 'grace'. This implies that a formal discount is a gesture of benevolence from the seller.
- The character 折 (zit³) literally means 'to fold' or 'to break'. This reflects the historical idea of 'folding' a price down to a smaller size.
Examples in context
- 今日佢哋係咪打折呀? (gam1 jat6 keoi5 dei6 hai6 mai6 daa2 zit3 aa3?)Are they having a discount today?
- 我買呢隻手機有冇特價? (ngo5 maai5 ni1 zek3 sau2 gei1 jau5 mou5 dak6 gaa3?)Is there a special price for this smartphone if I purchase it?
- 呢件衫有折扣嗎？ni1 gin6 saam1 jau5 zak3 kau3 maa1?Is there a discount on this shirt?
Example conversation
Two people are shopping for shoes at a store.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung志強，呢對鞋好靚，但係太貴喇。zi3 koeng4, ni1 deoi3 haai4 hou2 leng3, daan6 hai6 taai3 gwai3 laa3.Zi Qiang, these shoes are very beautiful, but too expensive.
- 志強 Chi Keung你可以問下店員有冇折扣。nei5 ho2 ji5 man1 haa6 dim2 jyun4 jau5 mou5 zit3 hau3.You can ask the clerk if there is a discount.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung我啱啱問咗，佢話而家冇折扣。ngo5 ngaam1 ngaam1 man1 zo2, keoi5 waa4 ji4 gaa1 mou5 zit3 hau3.I just asked, and he said there is no discount right now.
- 志強 Chi Keung咁我哋遲啲再嚟睇啦。gam2 ngo5 dei6 ci4 di1 zoi3 lai4 tai2 laa1.Then let's come back and look again later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “discount” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
