din6 maan4電鰻电鳗
Jyutpingdin6 maan4
Yaledihn màahn
Definition
Electric eel; a long freshwater fish native to South America capable of generating electric shocks.
neutralanimalsnature
How it's used
Despite the name, this creature belongs to the order Gymnotiformes and is more closely related to catfish than to true eels. It is famous for its ability to generate high voltage shocks to stun prey or defend itself. You will mostly encounter this term in educational contexts or when discussing exotic wildlife.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
The electric eel's discharge is very powerful when it strikes.
Do you know that the electric eel is actually not an eel?
Related words
Common phrases
electric eel discharge
Common mistake
People often mistakenly assume it is a type of eel because of the name, but in biology, it is distinct from the common eel family.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
