kau4 ngau5求偶
Jyutpingkau4 ngau5
Yalekàuh ngáuh
Definition
To court, woo, or seek a mate.
neutralanimalspeople
How it's used
Primarily used in biological or scientific contexts to describe animal behavior, such as birds or insects displaying features to attract a mate. When applied to humans, it often carries a slightly detached, analytical, or even humorous tone, as if observing the person's romantic efforts from a distance.
Examples
This kind of bird dances when it is courting.
With that way of courting, which girl would accept him?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in a romantic or intimate setting, as it sounds clinical and lacks the emotional nuance of words like 追 or 溝.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
