lung4龍龙
Jyutpinglung4
Yalelùhng
Definition
Dragon; a mythical creature, including East Asian serpentine dragons and Western reptilian dragons.
neutralanimalsfestival
How it's used
Refers to both the auspicious, serpentine creature of Chinese mythology and the winged, fire-breathing beast of Western fantasy. When discussing the Chinese zodiac, it is almost always paired with 年 to denote the specific year in the twelve-year cycle. It also frequently appears in idioms and names to signify power, nobility, or good fortune.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
This year is the Year of the Dragon, many people want to have a dragon baby.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the Chinese dragon with the dinosaur, which is usually called 恐龍. While both share the character 龍, they belong to entirely different conceptual categories in Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
