jau4蝣
Jyutpingjau4
Yaleyàuh
Definition
Mayfly; specifically Ephemera strigata.
writtenanimalsnature
How it's used
Refers specifically to the short-lived insect often associated with the concept of transience in literature. It is rarely used in daily conversation because most people use the more general term 蜉蝣 to describe the insect or the metaphor for a fleeting life. Using this character alone is highly formal or poetic.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Do you know how mayflies live?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 游 because they look similar, but 蝣 is strictly for the insect while 游 refers to swimming or traveling.
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.
