把

Classifier for Handled Things

Level 2Sounds Like baa2

把 (baa2) is a core Cantonese classifier used primarily for items with handles or grips (such as umbrellas and knives) and for a person's voice (聲 seng1). Unlike Mandarin, it is never used in Cantonese as a pre-verbal disposal marker.

How It Works

1. Objects with Handles and Grips
When counting or specifying tools that possess a handle, grip, or are meant to be held in the hand, use 把 (baa2). Common examples include:

  • 遮 (ze1) — umbrella (e.g., 呢把遮 ni1 baa2 ze1)
  • 刀 (dou1) — knife (e.g., 一把刀 jat1 baa2 dou1)
  • 鉸剪 (gaau3 zin2) — scissors
  • 間尺 (gaan3 cek2) — ruler
  • 扇 (sin3) — fan

2. Massifier for Handfuls and Bundles
把 (baa2) also functions as a massifier for items taken in a handful or gathered together in a bundle:

  • Handfuls: 一把米 (jat1 baa2 mai5 — a handful of rice), 一把沙 (jat1 baa2 saa1 — a handful of sand)
  • Bundles and bunches: 一把花 (jat1 baa2 faa1 — a bunch/bouquet of flowers), 一把長頭髮 (jat1 baa2 coeng4 tau4 faat3 — a head/bundle of long hair)

3. Classifier for Voices and Manner of Speech
A unique and very frequent feature in Cantonese is using 把 (baa2) for human voices (聲 seng1 or 聲音 seng1 jam1) and speech manners (口 hau2):

  • Voices: 佢把聲好聽 (keoi5 baa2 seng1 hou2 teng1) — 'His/Her voice sounds nice'.
  • Speech Manner (口 hau2): While an anatomical mouth takes 個 (go3), Cantonese switches to 把 (baa2) when describing how someone speaks or acts verbally:
    • 佢把口好甜 (keoi5 baa2 hau2 hou2 tim4) — 'He/She is very sweet-talking / flattering.'
    • 得把口 (dak1 baa2 hau2) — 'All talk and no action' (literally: 'only have a mouth').
    • 佢把口好毒 (keoi5 baa2 hau2 hou2 duk6) — 'He/She has a sharp / harsh tongue.'

4. Abstract Concepts and Fixed Phrases
把 (baa2) is also used in abstract measure phrases such as:

  • 大把 (daai6 baa2) — plenty of / a lot of
  • 一把火 (jat1 baa2 fo2) — a flare-up of anger / a fire
  • 一把年紀 (jat1 baa2 nin4 gei2) — advanced age

5. Key Differences from Mandarin

  • No Pre-Verbal Disposal Marker: Mandarin uses 把 (bǎ) to shift objects before a verb. Cantonese does not use 把 for disposal; native Cantonese uses standard SVO word order or 將 (zoeng1).
  • Chairs: In Mandarin, chairs take 把 (bǎ). In Cantonese, chairs take 張 (zoeng1) because they are viewed as flat surfaces!

Examples (4)

  1. 呢把遮係咪你㗎？

    Is this umbrella yours?

    Word by Word: this CL umbrella be-not-be you SFP

    Uses standard demonstrative 呢 (ni1) + classifier 把 (baa2) + handled noun 遮 (ze1).

  2. 我聽到佢把聲先至認得佢。

    It wasn't until I heard her voice that I recognized her.

    Word by Word: I hear reach her CL voice only-then recognize can her

    Demonstrates the possessive bare classifier construction 佢把聲 (keoi5 baa2 seng1) for 'her voice'.

  3. 呢度有大把錢，你唔使擔心。

    There is plenty of money here; you don't need to worry.

    Word by Word: here have big CL money, you not-need worry

    Shows the common fixed expression 大把 (daai6 baa2), meaning 'plenty of' or 'heaps of'.

  4. 幫我攞一把刀嚟呀。

    Help me bring a knife over.

    Word by Word: help me take one CL knife come SFP

    Uses number 一 (jat1) + classifier 把 (baa2) + handheld tool 刀 (dou1).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 把 as a pre-verbal disposal preposition (Mandarin transfer).

    我把本書睇完喇。
    我睇完本書喇。

    Cantonese does not use 把 (baa2) for pre-verbal object disposal. Use basic SVO word order or 將 (zoeng1) instead.

  • Using 把 for chairs instead of 張 (zoeng1).

    我想買一把椅。
    我想買一張椅。

    In Cantonese, chairs are categorized by their flat surface using 張 (zoeng1), not 把 (baa2).

  • Using the general classifier 個 (go3) for human voice.

    佢個聲好甜。
    佢把聲好甜。

    A person's voice (聲 seng1) specifically requires the classifier 把 (baa2).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

把Level 2Classifier for Handled Things

Learn This First

To understand '把' as a classifier, you first need to understand the basic grammatical role of classifiers in Cantonese, specifically how they are used with numbers and nouns to count or specify objects.

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Words in This Pattern

把