maa4 zoek2麻雀
Jyutpingmaa4 zoek2
Yalemàh jéuk
Definition
Sparrow; a small, brown bird with black-brown spots, a short tail, and short wings.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
While referring to the bird, this word is also the standard term for the game of Mahjong. Because of this, you will frequently hear people talk about playing 麻雀, which is a central part of local social life. The bird itself is a common sight in urban areas, often seen hopping around outdoor dining areas looking for crumbs.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is a sparrow chirping by the window.
Related words
Common phrases
to play Mahjong
Common mistake
Do not confuse the bird with the game. If someone says they are going to play 麻雀, they are talking about the board game, not birdwatching.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
