bou6菢
Jyutpingbou6
Yalebouh
Definition
To brood or sit on eggs in order to hatch them.
colloquialanimalsdaily actions
How it's used
This verb is specifically reserved for birds sitting on eggs to provide warmth for incubation. It is rarely used in any other context, and using it to describe a person sitting down would be considered incorrect or highly unusual. It carries a sense of patience and duty, often associated with the protective nature of a mother bird.
Examples
The hen is hatching eggs, don't disturb her.
Do you know how long the goose needs to sit on the eggs before they hatch?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with the general verb 坐, which means to sit. Remember that 菢 is strictly for the biological act of incubation, whereas 坐 is for the physical posture of a person or animal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
