wu1 jing1烏蠅乌蝇
Jyutpingwu1 jing1
Yalewū yīng
Definition
Fly or housefly; a common household pest that feeds on decaying matter and spreads disease.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
Refers specifically to the common housefly. It is often used in the idiom 烏蠅拍 to describe a flyswatter, which is a household staple in older Hong Kong apartments. People frequently use it metaphorically to describe a place that is completely empty or deserted, as in 拍烏蠅.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There are so many flies buzzing around here.
Hurry up and shoo that fly away.
Related words
Common phrases
to swat flies (often used to describe a business with no customers)
flyswatter
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 蚊, which refers to mosquitoes. While both are small flying insects, they are distinct in terms of the annoyance they cause and the diseases they carry.
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.
