gau2 zai2狗仔
Jyutpinggau2 zai2
Yalegáu jái
Definition
A puppy or little dog, or used as a term of endearment for dogs in general.
- puppy; young dog
- dog; doggie
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Adding 仔 to nouns is a common way to express affection or denote a smaller size in Cantonese. While 狗仔 can refer to a puppy, it is frequently used as a general term of endearment for any dog regardless of age. It carries a much warmer and more informal tone than the standard 狗.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Your doggie at home is so cute, what is its name?
I really want to keep a doggie, but there is no space at home.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 狗仔 with 狗仔隊, which is the specific term for paparazzi. Using 狗仔 to describe a professional photographer or a journalist would be incorrect and confusing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
