wong4 kei2蟥蜞
Jyutpingwong4 kei2
Yalewòhng kéi
Definition
Leech
colloquialanimalsnature
How it's used
Refers specifically to the small, blood-sucking annelids found in damp, grassy, or marshy areas in Hong Kong. It is a common concern for hikers during the humid summer months. Unlike the more general term 水蛭, which can sound more clinical or biological, 蟥蜞 is the everyday term used by locals when warning others about potential bites on trails.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Be careful when hiking, there are many leeches in the bushes.
Why is your foot bleeding? Did a leech bite you?
Related words
Common phrases
to be bitten by a leech
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 蜞乸, which is sometimes used in specific rural dialects or contexts to refer to larger or different types of leeches. Stick to 蟥蜞 for general conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
