tiu3 zou2跳蚤
Jyutpingtiu3 zou2
Yaletiu jóu
Definition
Flea; a tiny parasitic insect that causes severe itching when it bites.
neutralanimals
How it's used
While standard in written Chinese, local speakers often use the more colloquial term 蝨 or 蚤 to refer to these pests in daily life. Using the full term 跳蚤 can sound slightly formal or clinical, similar to how one might use a scientific name in casual conversation.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The cat has fleas on it, and they are everywhere.
Did you get bitten by fleas? Why are you so itchy?
Related words
Common phrases
bitten by fleas
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 跳蚤 with 蝨, which is a broader term for lice or similar parasitic insects. If you are talking about pests on a pet, people will almost always say 蝨 instead of the specific term 跳蚤.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
