jin3 zi2燕子
Jyutpingjin3 zi2
Yaleyin jí
Definition
Swallow; a small migratory bird with long, pointed wings and a forked tail.
neutralanimalsnature
How it's used
Swallows are culturally significant in Chinese literature as symbols of spring and the return of loved ones. While the term is standard, in casual conversation people might simply refer to them as 燕子 without specifying the species. They are frequently associated with the image of nesting in residential eaves, which is a common sight in older parts of Hong Kong.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
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Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
