fo1 dau2蝌蚪
Jyutpingfo1 dau2
Yalefō dáu
Definition
Tadpole; a newly hatched frog before it grows legs.
neutralanimals
How it's used
While standard in written Chinese, this term is also used in everyday speech to describe the larval stage of frogs. It is frequently used by children or in educational contexts when observing nature. It is rarely used metaphorically in Cantonese, unlike some other languages where it might describe something small or undeveloped.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There are many tadpoles swimming in the pond.
Related words
Common phrases
tadpoles swimming
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
