faan6 caan2 tau4飯鏟頭饭铲头
Definition
Chinese cobra; a highly venomous, dark grey to black snake with a hood shaped like a rice paddle.
How it's used
This term is a vivid example of how Cantonese speakers name animals based on their physical appearance. The name literally translates to rice paddle head, referring to the way the snake flattens its neck into a hood when threatened, which resembles the shape of a traditional wooden rice scoop. It is the standard, everyday way to refer to this specific species in Hong Kong, far more common than the formal name.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common garden snake or harmless snakes found in urban areas. Because this is a highly venomous species, the term is often used in cautionary contexts, so avoid using it casually to describe any random snake you encounter.
Grammar color guide
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).
