bei6 tai3 cung4鼻涕蟲鼻涕虫
Jyutpingbei6 tai3 cung4
Yalebeih tai chùhng
Definition
Slug, or a playful term for a snot-nosed kid.
- slug; a slimy, shell-less gastropod mollusc
- slanga snot-nosed kid; a child with a runny nose
colloquialanimalspeople
How it's used
Refers primarily to the gastropod mollusk, but frequently functions as a playful or mildly derogatory nickname for a child with a perpetually runny nose. The term captures the slimy, sticky texture of the creature, making it an evocative way to describe someone who is messy or unhygienic. Using it for a child is usually done in a teasing, informal manner rather than as a harsh insult.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
There are so many slugs in the vegetable garden, they are so gross.
You little snot-nosed kid, hurry up and wipe your nose clean.
Related words
Common phrases
slimy slug
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 蝸牛, which refers specifically to a snail with a shell. While they are related, the lack of a shell is the defining physical characteristic of a 鼻涕蟲.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
