gaa1 maau1家貓家猫
Jyutpinggaa1 maau1
Yalegā māu
Definition
Noun; house cat
neutralanimals
How it's used
While 家貓 is the direct term for a domestic cat, Hong Kongers frequently use the more casual 貓貓 when talking about their own pets or referring to cats in a friendly way. Using 家貓 sounds slightly more descriptive or formal, similar to distinguishing a pet from a stray cat.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
keoi5 uk1 kei2 joeng5 zo2 zek3 gaa1 maau1
佢屋企養咗隻家貓。
They keep a house cat at home.
nei5 zek3 gaa1 maau1 hou2 dak1 ji3 aa4
你隻家貓好得意呀。
Your house cat is so cute.
Related words
Common phrases
joeng5 gaa1 maau1
養家貓
to keep a house cat
Common mistake
Avoid using 家貓 to refer to a stray cat, which is called 流浪貓. If you are just talking about a cat in general, simply using 貓 is much more natural than specifying it is a house cat.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- 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.
