耳仔
ji⁵ zai²
The Cantonese word for ear is 耳仔 (ji⁵ zai²). If unsure, use 耳仔. Wiktionary also lists 耳 (ji⁵).
Meaning: organ of hearing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 耳仔 | ji⁵ zai² |
| 耳 | ji⁵ |
The word refers to the organ of hearing.
What does it mean word for word?
In the term 耳仔, the suffix 仔 means 'small' or is used as a diminutive, making the term sound more casual or affectionate.
Which one should you use?
The form 耳仔 is more colloquial and common in daily speech than the formal 耳.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific ear (e.g., 'left ear'), you would use the classifier 隻 (zek3) with the noun, such as 左耳仔 (zo2 ji5 zai2).
How do you pronounce it?
ji⁵ zai²
Did you know?
- The phrase 耳邊風 (ei2 bin1 fung1) literally means 'wind beside the ear' and is used to describe information or advice that is completely ignored.
- In Cantonese, if someone is a gossip-monger or easily swayed by rumors, they are said to have a 'weak ear root' or 耳根輕 (ei2 gan1 hing1).
- Cantonese uses the phrase 耳濡目染 (ei2 jyu4 muk6 jim2) to describe being influenced by one's surroundings through long-term hearing and seeing.
Examples in context
- 你內耳聽得清唔清楚？Can you hear clearly with your inner ear?
- 個細路嘅耳仔好細。go3 sai3 lou6 ge3 ji5 zai2 hou2 sai3.The child's ears are very small.
- 佢耳仔紅晒。keoi5 ji5 zai2 hung4 saai3.His ears are all red.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new pair of earrings.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你睇下我對新耳環，靚唔靚？nei5 tai2 haa2 ngo5 deu3 san1 ji5 waan4, leng3 m4 leng3?Look at my new earrings, are they pretty?
- 子健 Tsz Kin好靚，好襯你對耳仔。hou2 leng3, hou2 can3 nei5 deu3 ji5 zai2.Very pretty, they suit your ears well.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan多謝你，子健！do1 ze6 nei5, zi2 gin6!Thank you, Zi Jian!
- 子健 Tsz Kin唔客氣，嘉欣。m4 haak1 hei3, gaa1 han1.You're welcome, Ka Yan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ear” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
