zoeng6 ngaa4象牙
Jyutpingzoeng6 ngaa4
Yalejeuhng ngàh
Definition
Ivory; an elephant's tusk.
neutralanimalsother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the material harvested from elephant tusks, carrying a strong association with illegal poaching and conservation issues in modern discourse. It is rarely used in everyday conversation unless discussing history, art, or animal rights. When describing the physical object, it is often paired with verbs related to trade or prohibition.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
People used to really like using ivory to make ornaments.
Do you know that the ivory trade is illegal?
Related words
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
