mong4虻
Jyutpingmong4
Yalemòhng
Definition
Horsefly; any of various large, biting flies of the family Tabanidae.
colloquialanimalsnature
How it's used
Refers specifically to the biting fly often encountered near hiking trails or rural areas in Hong Kong. Unlike common houseflies, these are notorious for their painful, blood-drawing bites that can cause significant swelling. It is frequently used in the idiom 盲頭烏蠅 to describe someone acting aimlessly or frantically.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There are many horseflies here, be careful not to get bitten.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse it with 蚊, which is a mosquito. While both bite, 虻 are much larger and their bites are typically more painful and leave a more distinct mark.
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.
