bou6 jyu5哺乳
Jyutpingbou6 jyu5
Yalebouh yúh
Definition
To breastfeed or nurse an infant.
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How it's used
The term 哺乳 is formal and primarily used in scientific or medical contexts, such as describing biological classification. In daily life, Hong Kongers almost exclusively use 餵人奶 or 餵母乳 to refer to the act of breastfeeding. Using 哺乳 in casual conversation sounds overly clinical or academic.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 哺乳 in casual conversation with friends or family, as it sounds like you are reading from a biology textbook. Stick to 餵人奶 for natural speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
