caai4豺
Jyutpingcaai4
Yalechàaih
Definition
Dhole; a wild dog native to Asia, with an appearance similar to wolves but smaller in size.
neutralanimals
How it's used
Refers specifically to the Asiatic wild dog, a creature rarely encountered in urban Hong Kong. It appears most frequently in idioms or literary descriptions rather than casual daily conversation. When discussing wild canids in general, locals are far more likely to use 狗 or 狼.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
This animal is called a dhole, have you ever seen one?
The dhole looks very similar to a wolf, but it is smaller.
Related words
Common phrases
jackals and wolves (often used metaphorically for cruel or vicious people)
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
