ngau4牛
Jyutpingngau4
Yalengàuh
Definition
The pronunciation of 'cow' or 'beef' in certain collocations, such as beef spaghetti.
colloquialfood
How it's used
The character 牛 usually carries the tone of 'ngau4', but in specific food-related compounds like 牛意, it undergoes a tone change to 'ngau1'. This shift is common in Cantonese when shortening compound nouns to make them sound more colloquial and rhythmic. It is a specific phonological pattern found in fast-paced city speech rather than a general rule for all words starting with 牛.
Examples
This plate of beef spaghetti tastes better than that one.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to apply this tone change to every word starting with 牛, but it is restricted to specific food items or slang. Using it incorrectly will make your speech sound unnatural or confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
