mei4麋
Jyutpingmei4
Yalemèih
Definition
Moose or elk; also a Chinese surname.
- moose; elk
- a Chinese surname
neutralanimalspeople
How it's used
Primarily encountered as a rare surname in Hong Kong, rather than as a common animal name. When referring to the animal, it is often confused with other deer-like creatures in casual conversation. It carries a formal or literary tone due to its infrequent use in daily life.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is a moose in the zoo.
Related words
Common phrases
Mr. Mei
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 鹿, which is the general term for deer. Most native speakers will not immediately recognize this character for the animal unless they are reading a formal text.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
