ci1 jau1鴟鵂鸱鸺
Jyutpingci1 jau1
Yalechī yāu
Definition
An owl.
neutralanimals
How it's used
This term is the formal or literary name for an owl, but it is rarely used in casual daily conversation. Most Hong Kong people prefer using the loanword 貓頭鷹 to describe the bird. Using this term might sound slightly poetic or academic depending on the context.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word in everyday speech as it sounds overly formal or archaic. Stick to 貓頭鷹 for normal communication to avoid sounding unnatural.
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.
