ngau4 zek3牛隻牛只
Jyutpingngau4 zek3
Yalengàuh jek
Definition
Cattle, often used as a collective noun.
neutralanimalsfood
How it's used
Use this term primarily in formal, agricultural, or academic contexts when referring to cattle as a collective group. It carries a clinical or administrative tone that distinguishes it from the everyday word 牛, which is used for the animal in casual conversation or when referring to a single cow. You will frequently encounter it in news reports or government documents regarding livestock management.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There are many cattle raised on the farm.
Are these cattle being sent to the slaughterhouse?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in casual conversation, as it sounds overly stiff or technical. If you are just talking about seeing a cow in a field, simply use 牛.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
