mou5 gai1母雞母鸡
Jyutpingmou5 gai1
Yalemóuh gāi
Definition
Hen; a female chicken.
neutralanimalsfood
How it's used
People in Hong Kong rarely use the formal term 母雞 in daily speech, preferring the simpler 雞 or 乸雞 when specifically distinguishing gender. Using the full term sounds slightly clinical or like something from a biology textbook. If you are at a wet market or a restaurant, you will almost never hear this word used to describe food.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common phrases
a hen laying eggs
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 母雞 to refer to any chicken they see, but in casual conversation, just saying 雞 is far more natural. Only use this term if you are specifically contrasting it with 公雞 for breeding or farming purposes.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
