kam4 sau3禽獸禽兽
Jyutpingkam4 sau3
Yalekàhm sau
Definition
Birds and beasts, or a person of low morals.
- birds and beasts; wild animals
- figurativea beastly, immoral, or cruel person
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used as a harsh insult to describe someone who lacks basic human morality or empathy. When referring to actual animals, it is more common to use the collective term 飛禽走獸 instead of just 禽獸. Using this word towards a person is a very strong condemnation, often implying behavior that is considered subhuman or predatory.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
He is truly a beast, he even cheated his own family.
Related words
Common phrases
a wolf in sheep's clothing; a person who looks respectable but acts immorally
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to animals in a neutral or scientific context, as it carries a strong negative connotation when applied to people and sounds archaic or overly dramatic when applied to nature.
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.
