gai1 zai2雞仔鸡仔
Jyutpinggai1 zai2
Yalegāi jái
Definition
A chick or baby chicken.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Adding 仔 to a noun is the most common way to denote something is small or young. While 雞仔 specifically refers to a chick, it is also frequently used as a colloquial term for small coins or pocket money in certain contexts. It carries a sense of endearment that the standard word 雞雛 lacks.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 雞仔 to refer to a full grown chicken, as it will sound like you are calling it a baby. Use 雞 for an adult chicken instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
