zi1吱
Jyutpingzi1
Yalejī
Definition
Chirp of a bird or squeak of a mouse.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Primarily functions as an onomatopoeia to mimic high pitched, short, and repetitive sounds. It is frequently doubled as 吱吱 to emphasize the continuous nature of the sound. Beyond animal noises, it can occasionally describe the sound of friction between two dry surfaces, such as a rusty hinge or a shoe rubbing against a floor.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 吱吱喳喳, which is used to describe people talking incessantly or gossiping, rather than actual animal sounds.
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.
