to4 niu5鴕鳥鸵鸟
Jyutpingto4 niu5
Yaletòh níuh
Definition
Ostrich; the largest species of bird in the world, which is native to Africa and cannot fly.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Metaphorically, referring to someone as a 鴕鳥 implies they are avoiding reality or ignoring a problem, much like the English idiom of burying one's head in the sand. This figurative use is very common in political and social commentary in Hong Kong.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is an ostrich in the zoo.
Are you trying to act like an ostrich and bury your head in the sand?
Related words
Common phrases
ostrich mentality
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.
