wo1蝸蜗
Jyutpingwo1
Yalewō
Definition
Snail
colloquialanimals
How it's used
While 蝸 is the character for snail, it is almost never used as a standalone noun in spoken Cantonese. You will consistently hear it paired with 牛 to form 蝸牛, even when referring to a single small snail. Using 蝸 alone can sound overly literary or like a fragment of a compound word.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The snail is crawling on the leaf.
Do you see a snail in the garden?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 蝸 as a standalone noun in casual speech, as it will sound unnatural or confusing. Always use the full term 蝸牛 to refer to the animal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
