數字
sou3 zi6
The English phrase "numbers" is translated into Cantonese as 數字 (sou3 zi6).
The term 數字 is used to refer to both abstract mathematical numbers and the specific digits or characters used to represent them.
What does it mean word for word?
數字 is composed of 數 (sou3), meaning number or count and 字 (zi6), meaning character or word.
How do you pronounce it?
sou3 zi6
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, the 數字 '4' is often avoided because it sounds nearly identical to the word for 'death'. Some buildings in Hong Kong even skip the 4th floor in their numbering systems.
- While 數字 are usually written in Arabic numerals today, traditional Cantonese documents use specialized 'financial' characters for numbers to prevent fraud and altering digits.
- When counting objects, Cantonese speakers often use specific classifiers that change depending on the shape of the object, making the word for 'number' feel secondary to the noun's category.
Examples in context
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a math textbook.
- 家明 Ka Ming呢啲數字好難記。ni1 di1 sou3 zi6 hou2 naan4 gei3.These numbers are hard to remember.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你試下用方法記佢。nei5 si3 haa5 jung6 fong1 faat3 gei3 keoi5.Try using a method to remember them.
- 家明 Ka Ming嘉欣，你有冇記法？kaa1 jan1, nei5 jau5 mou5 gei3 faat3?Ka Yan, do you have any way to remember them?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你可以將啲數字分組。nei5 ho2 ji5 zoeng1 di1 sou3 zi6 fan1 zou2.You can group the numbers.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
