zoeng6象
Jyutpingzoeng6
Yalejeuhng
Definition
Elephant; a large land mammal with a long trunk and tusks.
neutralanimals
How it's used
Refers specifically to the animal, but is rarely used in isolation in daily speech because it sounds quite formal or literary. Most people prefer using the loanword 大象 when talking about the animal in a general context. The character is much more common in compounds like 象牙 or 抽象.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There are a few elephants in the zoo.
Have you ever seen a really big elephant?
Related words
Common phrases
ivory
Common mistake
Learners often use 象 alone, but it sounds unnatural in casual conversation; always add 大 before it to sound like a native speaker.
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.
