zi6 joeng5飼養饲养
Jyutpingzi6 joeng5
Yalejih yéuhng
Definition
To raise, rear, or keep animals.
neutralanimalsdaily actions
How it's used
While 飼養 is the standard term for raising animals, it carries a slightly formal or professional tone compared to the everyday verb 養. You will frequently see 飼養 in official documents, housing estate regulations, or when discussing the technical aspects of animal husbandry. In casual conversation, most people simply use 養 to describe keeping pets.
Examples
Do you keep any pets at home?
He really likes keeping tropical fish.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 飼養 when talking about raising children, as it implies treating them like livestock. Use 湊 or 養育 for children instead.
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.
