baak6 jat6 zai2白日仔

Jyutpingbaak6 jat6 zai2

Yalebaahk yaht jái

Definition

A moth.

colloquialanimals

How it's used

This term is a colloquial, regional way to refer to a moth, often used in spoken Cantonese to distinguish it from a butterfly. While standard written Chinese uses 蛾, locals frequently use this specific term in casual settings. It carries a slightly informal, everyday feel, often used when someone is shooing a moth away from a light source.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

zaan2盞dang1燈haa6下min6面jau5有zek3隻baak6白jat6日zai2仔fei1飛lai4嚟fei1飛heoi3去。

There is a moth flying around under the lamp.

nei5你gin3見m4唔gin3見dou3到coeng4牆soeng6上min6面go2嗰zek3隻baak6白jat6日zai2仔aa4呀？

Do you see that moth on the wall?

Common phrases

pok3撲fo2火ge3嘅baak6白jat6日zai2仔

a moth flying into the fire

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 蝴蝶, which refers to a butterfly. While both are insects, they are distinct in Cantonese, and using one for the other will sound incorrect to native speakers.