hoi2 mong1 gwo2海芒果
Jyutpinghoi2 mong1 gwo2
Yalehói mōng gwó
Definition
Sea mango (Cerbera manghas); a species of coastal tree with poisonous fruit.
neutralnature
How it's used
Botanical names in Cantonese often follow the pattern of adding a prefix to a familiar fruit name to denote a wild or inedible relative. Sea mangos are highly toxic and are frequently planted in Hong Kong parks for their aesthetic value rather than consumption. Locals are generally aware that they are ornamental plants and should never be touched or ingested.
Measure word
fo2棵fóExamples
These sea mangos look nice, but you must not eat them.
Related words
Common phrases
sea mangos are poisonous
Common mistake
Learners often mistake the name for a type of edible mango due to the word 芒果, but it is strictly a toxic plant. Never confuse it with the common mango, which is simply called 芒果.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
