wu4 lei2狐狸
Jyutpingwu4 lei2
Yalewùh léi
Definition
Fox; a carnivorous canine animal with keen senses, fast running, and high jumping ability.
neutralanimals
How it's used
Refers to the animal in both literal and metaphorical contexts. It is frequently used in idioms to describe someone who is cunning or deceitful, similar to how the word is used in many other cultures.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common phrases
homewrecker or seductress
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe a person's physical appearance, as it is almost exclusively used to imply personality traits like craftiness or to refer to the actual animal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
