pong4 haai5螃蟹
Jyutpingpong4 haai5
Yalepòhng háaih
Definition
Crab
colloquialfoodanimals
How it's used
Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 蟹 instead of 螃蟹 in daily life. Using 螃蟹 sounds like reading from a textbook or a formal written document, as it is a Mandarin-influenced term. Stick to 蟹 for all culinary and casual contexts.
Measure word
zek3隻jekRelated words
Common mistake
Learners often use 螃蟹 because it is the standard term in Mandarin, but it sounds unnatural and overly formal in spoken Cantonese. Always use 蟹 when talking about the animal or the food.
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.
