pei4 fau4蚍蜉
Jyutpingpei4 fau4
Yalepèih fàuh
Definition
A type of large ant, typically grey with a large head and large antennae.
neutralanimals
How it's used
Literary in origin, this term is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese to refer to common ants. Most people prefer the colloquial term 蟻 when talking about insects in daily life. Using this word might sound overly formal or poetic, often evoking the classical idiom 蚍蜉撼樹, which describes someone overestimating their own strength.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is an ant crawling in the corner.
Related words
Common phrases
an ant trying to shake a tree; a futile attempt
Common mistake
Avoid using this word in casual conversation as it sounds academic or archaic. Stick to 蟻 for general purposes unless you are specifically referring to the larger species or writing in a formal context.
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.
