ngau4 gu2牛牯
Jyutpingngau4 gu2
Yalengàuh gú
Definition
Bull; a male bovine animal.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
The suffix 牯 is a common way in Cantonese to specify the male of certain animals, particularly livestock. It carries a slightly rustic or earthy tone compared to the more formal 公牛. You will often hear it used in rural contexts or when describing farm animals with a bit more personality.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
That bull is very fierce, don't walk too close.
Have you seen that bull in the farm yet?
Related words
Common phrases
a bull
Common mistake
Do not use 牯 for humans, as it is strictly reserved for animals. Using it to describe a man would be considered rude or derogatory.
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.
