baak3 zuk1百足
Jyutpingbaak3 zuk1
Yalebaak jūk
Definition
Centipede.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Literally meaning hundred feet, this term is the standard way to refer to a centipede in daily life. It is often used in the idiom 百足咁多爪, which describes someone who is extremely busy or involved in too many things at once, likening them to a centipede with its many legs.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The house is very damp, I see centipedes all the time.
Related words
Common phrases
to have too many irons in the fire
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 蜈蚣, which is the formal or scientific name for a centipede. While 蜈蚣 is understood, 百足 is the preferred term in casual, everyday speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
