zi1 waa1 waa1芝娃娃
Jyutpingzi1 waa1 waa1
Yalejī wā wā
Definition
Chihuahua; a breed of very small dog.
colloquialanimals
How it's used
This term is a direct phonetic loanword from English, reflecting the common Hong Kong practice of adapting foreign pet breed names into Cantonese. It is almost exclusively used in casual conversation when discussing pets or dog breeds. While technically a specific breed, it is often used colloquially to emphasize the small size of a dog.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Why do you want to raise a Chihuahua?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Cantonese word 芝士 for cheese, despite the shared first character. Ensure the full term 芝娃娃 is used, as shortening it to just 芝 might cause confusion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
