saam1 niu5三鳥三鸟
Jyutpingsaam1 niu5
Yalesāam níuh
Definition
A collective term for chickens, ducks, and geese.
colloquialfoodshopping
How it's used
Refers specifically to the collective category of poultry commonly found in traditional wet markets. It is a functional term often used by vendors or shoppers when discussing the supply or price of these specific birds. You will rarely hear it used in a casual conversation about pets or biology, as it is strictly tied to food and commerce.
Examples
The chicken, duck, and goose at the market are very expensive today.
Related words
Common phrases
poultry stall
Common mistake
Do not use this term to refer to birds in general, as it is exclusively for edible poultry. Using it to describe wild birds or a pet parrot will sound very strange to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
