部

Classifier for Machines and Works

Level 2Sounds Like bou6

部 (bou6) is the standard Cantonese classifier for electronic gadgets, household appliances, media works like movies and novels, and vehicles like cars.

How It Works

The word 部 (bou6) is one of the most frequently used classifiers in Cantonese for technology, appliances, creative works, and motorized road vehicles.

Primary Usage Categories:

  • Electronic Devices & Household Tech: Mobile phones (電話 din6 waa2), laptops/computers (電腦 din6 nou5), cameras (相機 soeng2 gei1), TVs (電視 din6 si6), air conditioners (冷氣機 laang5 hei3 gei1), and electric fans (風扇 fung1 sin3).
  • Creative & Media Works: Movies (電影 din6 jing2), TV drama series (電視劇 din6 si6 kek6), and literary novels (小說 siu2 syut3).
  • Cars & Road Vehicles: Motorized road transport such as cars (車 ce1) and sports cars (跑車 paau2 ce1).

Important Distinctions:
1. Mandarin Transfer Pitfall: Cantonese does not use 台 (toi4) for computers or personal tech. Saying 台 (toi4) for tech is a transfer error from Mandarin. Cantonese uses 部 (bou6) (or informally 架 (gaa3)).
2. 部 (bou6) vs. 架 (gaa3): 架 (gaa3) is the main classifier for all vehicles (including bicycles and airplanes). 部 (bou6) can be used for cars and motorized road transport, but is not normally used for bicycles or airplanes. In casual spoken Cantonese, 架 (gaa3) is also commonly used for computers and electronic appliances. However, 架 (gaa3) is not used for creative/media works. Movies and series also take 套 (tou3), but never 架; literary works take 部 (bou6).
3. 部 (bou6) vs. 本 (bun2): Use 本 (bun2) for physical, bound reading items like books (一本書). Use 部 (bou6) when referring to a novel or multi-volume literary work as an artistic creation (一部小說).

Grammar Frame:
Follows the standard Number + CL + Noun or demonstrative pattern:
• 呢部 (ni1 bou6) — this [machine/work]
• 嗰部 (go2 bou6) — that [machine/work]
• 兩部 (loeng5 bou6) — two [machines/works] (remember to use 兩 loeng5, not 二 ji6!)

Examples (4)

  1. 呢部電話好貴，但係好實用。

    This phone is very expensive, but it is very practical.

    Word by Word: This [CL] phone very expensive, but is very practical.

    Use 呢部 (ni1 bou6) for 'this phone'. 電話 (din6 waa2) takes the classifier 部 (bou6).

  2. 嗰部電影真係好好睇！

    That movie is really great to watch!

    Word by Word: That [CL] movie really very good watch!

    Media works like movies (電影 din6 jing2) take the classifier 部 (bou6).

  3. 我前日買咗一部新電腦。

    I bought a new computer the day before yesterday.

    Word by Word: I day before yesterday buy [past] one [CL] new computer.

    Computers (電腦 din6 nou5) take 部 (bou6). Notice the perfective aspect marker 咗 (zo2) after the verb.

  4. 屋企有兩部冷氣機。

    There are two air conditioners at home.

    Word by Word: Home have two [CL] air-conditioners.

    When counting 'two' machines, use 兩 (loeng5) to form 兩部 (loeng5 bou6).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 台 (toi4) for computers or tech gadgets due to Mandarin influence.

    我買咗一台新電腦。
    我買咗一部新電腦。

    In Cantonese, 台 (toi4) refers to platforms, stages, or tables. Electronic devices strictly use 部 (bou6).

  • Using 部 (bou6) for an ordinary book.

    Different Meaning檯上面有一部書。
    檯上面有一本書。

    An ordinary book takes 本 (bun2). 部 (bou6) is for a large work such as a novel, a dictionary or a multi-volume set, so 一部書 sounds like a big, serious book.

  • Using 架 (gaa3) for movies or TV shows.

    呢架電影好好睇。
    呢部電影好好睇。

    While 架 (gaa3) works for vehicles and machinery, it cannot be applied to media or creative works. Movies strictly require 部 (bou6).

How It Connects

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

部Level 2Classifier for Machines and Works

Learn This First

To use the classifier 部 (bou6), you first need to understand the general concept of classifiers in Cantonese and the standard word order for counting objects (Number + Classifier + Noun). Familiarity with the general classifier '個' provides a baseline for understanding why specific classifiers are used for certain categories like machines and works.

Words in This Pattern