wong4凰
Jyutpingwong4
Yalewòhng
Definition
Female Chinese phoenix.
neutralother
How it's used
Rarely appears as a standalone noun in modern speech, almost always occurring as part of the compound 鳳凰. While 鳳 refers to the male and 凰 to the female, the combined term is used generically to refer to the creature as a whole. It carries a strong cultural association with auspiciousness, beauty, and the pairing of opposites.
Examples
The phoenix is a mythical bird in legends.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 凰 to refer to a regular bird, as it is strictly reserved for the mythical creature. Learners often mistake it for a generic term for female animals, which is incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
