hoi2 jin3海燕
Jyutpinghoi2 jin3
Yalehói yin
Definition
Petrel or sea swallow; a seabird with a hooked beak and tube-shaped nostrils.
neutralanimalsnature
How it's used
Refers specifically to the seabird known as the petrel, which is rarely encountered by the average city dweller in Hong Kong. It is often associated with the sea and stormy weather in literature or poetry, rather than being a common sight in daily life. Use this term strictly for the biological bird, as it is not used metaphorically in common Cantonese slang.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Petrels are always flying around above the sea surface.
Related words
Common phrases
petrel flying
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.
