遮
ze¹
The Cantonese word for umbrella is 遮 (ze¹).
An umbrella is a cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun. If you want to specify that you are talking about an umbrella used specifically for protection against the sun, you can use the term 遮陽遮.
Meaning: cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting umbrellas, you should use the classifier 把 (baa²). You can also use the classifier 枝 (zi¹), which often emphasizes the long, stick-like shape of the object.
How do you pronounce it?
ze¹
Did you know?
- During the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, the 遮 became a powerful political symbol of peaceful resistance and civil disobedience.
- In traditional Cantonese culture, gifting a 遮 can sometimes be seen as unlucky because the sound of the word for 'umbrella' in some dialects is similar to words for 'separation'.
- Cantonese speakers use the word 遮 in the phrase 遮遮掩掩, which describes someone acting in a secretive or furtive manner.
Examples in context
- 我唔見咗把遮。I have lost my umbrella.This sentence is useful for saying you have lost your 遮.Tatoeba #12117096 by thesilhouette, translation #245032 by CK
- 呢把遮係咪你㗎？Is this your umbrella?This sentence is useful for asking if a 遮 belongs to someone.Tatoeba #388133 by nickyeow, translation #55984 by CK
- 佢漏低咗佢把遮。She has left her umbrella behind.This sentence is useful for describing someone leaving their 遮 behind.Tatoeba #868374 by nickyeow, translation #313876 by CH
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are standing outside a shop as it starts to rain.
- 志強 Chi Keung落雨喇，你帶咗遮未？lok6 jyu5 laa3, nei5 daai3 zo2 ze1 mei6?It's raining, did you bring an umbrella?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我冇帶遮呀。ngo5 mou5 daai3 ze1 aa3.I didn't bring an umbrella.
- 志強 Chi Keung我有一把遮，兩個人共用啦。ngo5 jau5 jat1 baa2 ze1, loeng5 go3 jan4 gung6 jung6 laa1.I have an umbrella, let's share it.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan唔該晒志強。m4 goi1 saai3 zi3 koeng4.Thank you, Chi Keung.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “umbrella” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
