saan1 joeng4山羊
Jyutpingsaan1 joeng4
Yalesāan yèuhng
Definition
Goat; a domesticated animal with relatively straight, long horns and a short tail.
neutralanimals
How it's used
Distinguishing between animals is often done by physical characteristics in Cantonese, so mentioning the straight horns or short tail helps clarify you mean a goat rather than a sheep. While sheep are often associated with wool, goats are more commonly associated with milk or climbing ability in local culture.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There are a few goats eating grass in the farm.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 山羊 with 綿羊. Remember that 山羊 typically refers to the goat with straight horns, whereas 綿羊 refers to the woolly sheep.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
