baat3 go1八哥
Jyutpingbaat3 go1
Yalebaat gō
Definition
Crested myna; a species of bird known for its ability to mimic other birds and human speech.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Often associated with the ability to mimic human speech, which makes them popular but sometimes noisy pets. People frequently use them as a metaphor for someone who repeats what others say without thinking, similar to how a parrot is used in other languages.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
That mynah is always imitating people talking, it's so cute.
Related words
Common phrases
mimic human speech
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the dog breed pug, which is also called 八哥 in Chinese. Context is usually sufficient to distinguish between the bird and the dog.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
