faa1 paau3花豹
Jyutpingfaa1 paau3
Yalefā paau
Definition
Leopard; a large wild cat with a spotted coat.
neutralanimals
How it's used
Distinguishing between specific types of big cats is common in casual conversation, especially when comparing them to the solid-colored black panther. While the term is precise, people often just use 豹 for any leopard-like animal unless they need to emphasize the spots. It is strictly a biological term and does not carry the metaphorical meanings often found in other languages.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The leopard at the zoo seems to be sick.
Have you ever seen a leopard in the wild?
Related words
Common phrases
leopard spots
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to a cheetah, which is specifically called 獵豹. Confusing the two is a common error because both have spots, but they are distinct species in Cantonese terminology.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
