zoi2宰
Jyutpingzoi2
Yalejói
Definition
To slaughter or butcher animals for meat.
neutralfooddaily actions
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or professional contexts, such as in the meat industry or culinary discussions. In everyday speech, people usually prefer the more common verb 殺 when referring to killing an animal for food. It carries a slightly more clinical or technical tone compared to the bluntness of 殺.
Examples
They have to slaughter a chicken today to eat.
Do you know where one can slaughter a cow?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it in casual conversation where 殺 is more natural. It is also sometimes confused with the homophone 載, which means to carry or transport, so be careful with the context.
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.
