maau1 jyu2貓魚猫鱼
Jyutpingmaau1 jyu2
Yalemāau yú
Definition
Small fish used as cat food.
colloquialfoodanimals
How it's used
Refers specifically to low-grade, small, or inexpensive fish sold in wet markets for the purpose of feeding pets or strays. It is not a formal biological term but a functional label used by fishmongers and pet owners. The quality is generally considered unfit for human consumption due to the presence of many small bones or lack of freshness.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
These cat fishes are cheap, buy a few catties to feed the stray cats.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe fish that you intend to eat yourself, even if it is a cheap variety, as it implies the fish is of inferior quality or meant for animals.
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.
