saam1 sik1 maau1三色貓三色猫
Jyutpingsaam1 sik1 maau1
Yalesāam sīk māau
Definition
Calico cat; a cat with a coat made of patches of orange, white, and black, sometimes also referring to a tortoiseshell cat.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Most calico cats are female due to the genetic link between coat color and sex chromosomes. While people often use the term loosely to describe any cat with three colors, it specifically refers to the distinct patches of white, black, and orange. It is common to see these cats wandering around local wet markets or residential estates as street cats.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common phrases
little calico cat
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 玳瑁貓, which typically has a mottled or brindled pattern of black and orange without the prominent white patches found on a true calico.
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.
