king4鯨鲸
Jyutpingking4
Yalekìhng
Definition
Whale
neutralanimalsnature
How it's used
While 鯨 exists as a morpheme, it is almost never used alone in spoken Cantonese. You should always add 魚 to form 鯨魚 when referring to the animal. Using 鯨 by itself sounds like a fragment from a formal document or a scientific name.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
We are going to Ocean Park to see whales.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 鯨 as a standalone noun, but it functions primarily as a character in compound words. Always use 鯨魚 to ensure your speech sounds natural.
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.
