mou4 cung4毛蟲毛虫
Jyutpingmou4 cung4
Yalemòuh chùngh
Definition
Caterpillar
colloquialanimalsnature
How it's used
Refers specifically to the larval stage of butterflies and moths. While the name implies hairiness, it is used for most smooth or spiky larvae found in gardens as well. It is often used in metaphors regarding transformation or growth.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
po1 syu6 soeng6 min6 jau5 hou2 do1 mou4 cung4 aa4
樖樹上面有好多毛蟲呀。
There are many caterpillars on the tree.
nei5 gin3 dou2 mou4 cung4 wui6 ji5 m4 wui2 gok3 dak1 hou2 geng1
你見到毛蟲會唔會覺得好驚？
Do you feel scared when you see a caterpillar?
Related words
Common phrases
mou4 cung4 bin3 wu4 dip2
毛蟲變蝴蝶
caterpillar turns into a butterfly
Common mistake
Avoid confusing this with 蟲, which is a generic term for any insect or worm. Using 毛蟲 for a common house fly or a beetle would be incorrect as it specifically describes the caterpillar form.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
