coek3 bou3鵲報鹊报
Jyutpingcoek3 bou3
Yalecheuk bou
Definition
The cry of a magpie, traditionally considered a good omen.
colloquialnatureother
How it's used
Traditional Chinese culture views the magpie as a herald of joy, so hearing its call is considered a positive sign. While the term is rooted in folklore, it is still understood by many speakers today as a poetic or superstitious way to describe a lucky omen. It is rarely used in casual, modern city life unless someone is being playful or referring to traditional beliefs.
Examples
I heard a magpie this morning, I wonder if something good is going to happen?
There is a magpie calling outside, maybe a distinguished guest is arriving.
Related words
Common phrases
a magpie bringing good news
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.
