恐龍 / 恐龙
The Cantonese word for dinosaur is 恐龍 / 恐龙.
The term refers to a prehistoric reptile.
Meaning: prehistoric reptile (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 恐 (fear/dread) and 龍 (dragon), literally meaning 'fearful dragon'.
Did you know?
- In Hong Kong Cantonese, people often use the English word 'dinosaur' during casual conversations about science or movies, even when speaking otherwise fluent Cantonese.
- The word 龍 (dragon) used in 'dinosaur' is the same character used to describe the Chinese zodiac animal, linking the prehistoric world to a fundamental cultural concept.
- Cantonese speakers may use the term 恐龍 metaphorically to describe something that is outdated or a 'relic' of a previous era, similar to the English usage.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dinosaur” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
