pei4蚍
Jyutpingpei4
Yalepèih
Definition
A type of large ant, or various shellfish.
- literarya type of large ant
- literaryvarious shellfish
writtenanimals
How it's used
Refers specifically to large ants or certain types of shellfish, though it is rarely used in modern daily speech. Most people prefer using 蟻 for ants in general conversation. It is more common in literary contexts or specific regional dialects rather than standard Hong Kong Cantonese.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The ants here are very large.
Related words
Common phrases
large ant
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 螞蟻, which is the standard term for ants. Using 蚍 in casual conversation might sound overly formal or archaic to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
