雪櫃 / 雪柜
syut³ gwai⁶
The Cantonese word for refrigerator is 雪櫃 / 雪柜 (syut³ gwai⁶).
Meaning: appliance (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 雪櫃 is a compound of 雪 (snow) and 櫃 (cabinet or cupboard), literally meaning 'snow cabinet'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, some older generations may use the term 冰櫃 to refer to a refrigerator, which translates to 'icebox'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is syut³ gwai⁶.
Did you know?
- When talking about the freezer compartment specifically, Cantonese speakers often use the term 冰格, which literally means 'ice grid'.
- In traditional Cantonese households, the 雪櫃 is often placed in the balcony or outside the kitchen to save space in small Hong Kong apartments.
- While 雪櫃 refers to a refrigerator, the word 雪 is also used as a verb meaning 'to freeze' or 'to put something in the freezer'.
Examples in context
- 我要買一個新雪櫃。I want to buy a new refrigerator.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “refrigerator” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
