gap3 gaai3蛤蚧
Jyutpinggap3 gaai3
Yalegap gaai
Definition
Tokay gecko; a large gecko species native to southern China and Southeast Asia used in traditional medicine.
colloquialanimalshealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the Tokay gecko, which is significantly larger and more vocal than the common house geckos found in urban areas. It is deeply associated with traditional Chinese medicine, where it is often dried and used in soups for its supposed health benefits. Because of this, the term is frequently encountered in the context of herbal shops rather than casual wildlife observation.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is a gecko on the wall of his house.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the generic term 壁虎, which is used for smaller, common house lizards. Using 蛤蚧 to describe a tiny lizard crawling on your ceiling will sound strange to locals as it implies a much larger, more specific creature.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
