laai6 niu6 haa1瀨尿蝦濑尿虾
Jyutpinglaai6 niu6 haa1
Yalelaaih niuh hā
Definition
Mantis shrimp, or a child who wets the bed.
- mantis shrimp; a marine crustacean common in seafood dishes
- slanga child who wets the bed
colloquialfoodpeople
How it's used
The term refers to the mantis shrimp, which is a popular seafood dish in Hong Kong. It also functions as a playful or teasing nickname for a child who frequently wets the bed. The name comes from the creature's defensive habit of spraying a stream of water when caught.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Let's go to the restaurant to eat mantis shrimp tonight.
Related words
Common phrases
salt and pepper mantis shrimp
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the actual animal name used in biology textbooks, as this is a purely colloquial term. When referring to the child who wets the bed, it is often used in a teasing or slightly mocking tone, so be careful with the context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
