飲管
jam2 gun2
The English word straw is 飲管 (jam2 gun2) in Cantonese.
飲管 refers to a thin tube used for sucking liquid from a container.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 飲 (to drink) and 管 (tube/pipe), literally meaning "drinking tube".
How do you pronounce it?
jam2 gun2
Did you know?
- The character 飲 in 飲管 is used in the Cantonese phrase 飲茶, which means 'drinking tea' but actually refers to the entire social experience of dim sum.
- The word 管 is used in Cantonese for everything from a small 飲管 to massive industrial water pipes and even the windpipe in human anatomy.
- In a traditional Cantonese tea house, you will rarely see a 飲管 provided with tea, as sipping directly from the cup is the culturally standard way to drink.
Examples in context
- 我需要一支吸管。I need a straw.
- 等我拎返啲吸管仔。Wait for me to bring back some straws.
- 你識唔識用吸管仔飲水？Do you know how to drink water with a straw?
- 我想攞支飲管。ngo5 soeng2 lo2 zi1 jam2 gun2.I want to get a straw.
- 呢個飲管好長。ni1 go3 jam2 gun2 hou2 coeng4.This straw is very long.
- 你有唔有飲管？nei5 jau5 m4 jau5 jam2 gun2?Do you have a straw?
Example conversation
At a bubble tea shop, Mei Ling is asking Jun Kit for a straw.
- 美玲 Mei Ling俊傑，你有唔有飲管？zeon3 kit3, nei5 jau5 m4 jau5 jam2 gun2?Jun Kit, do you have a straw?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit我冇呀，我搵下。ngo5 mou5 aa3, ngo5 wan2 haa5.I don't have one, let me look.
- 美玲 Mei Ling喺個包入面搵下。hai2 go3 baau1 jap6 min6 wan2 haa5.Look inside the bag.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit搵到喇，係呢支飲管。wan2 dou2 laa3, hai6 ni1 zi1 jam2 gun2.Found it, it's this straw.
