kuk1 kuk1蛐蛐
Jyutpingkuk1 kuk1
Yalekūk kūk
Definition
Cricket; an insect of the family Gryllidae.
colloquialanimalsnature
How it's used
蛐蛐 is a colloquial term for a cricket, often used in Northern Chinese contexts or when referring to the insect as a pet or a fighter. In everyday Hong Kong Cantonese, people are much more likely to use the term 蟋蟀 to describe the insect found in nature. Using 蛐蛐 might sound slightly literary or influenced by media from outside of Hong Kong.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is a cricket chirping in the grass.
Related words
Common phrases
sound of a cricket
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with other insect names or assume it is the standard term used by locals, whereas 蟋蟀 is the far more common and natural choice in daily life.
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.
