驢仔
leoi4 zai2
The Cantonese word for donkey is 驢仔 (leoi4 zai2).
The term refers to the domestic animal, often specifically denoting a smaller or younger donkey.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of 驢, which means donkey and the suffix 仔, which literally means 'small', 'young' or 'child'. This makes 驢仔 a diminutive form of the animal.
Which one should you use?
驢 is the standard term for a donkey, while 驢仔 is a diminutive form used to describe a smaller or younger one.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
驢 is considered the standard, neutral term. In contrast, 驢仔 is more colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong Cantonese, the term 驢 (lou4) is commonly used for donkey.
How do you pronounce it?
leoi4 zai2
Did you know?
- While 驢 (leoi4) is the standard word, if you were to call someone a 'donkey' as an insult to imply they are stubborn, you might actually use different terms or different animals entirely in a Cantonese context.
- The character 驢 (leoi4) is one of the more complex characters in the language, consisting of a 'horse' radical and a phonetic component that describes the animal's specific qualities.
- The use of 仔 (zai2) to make 驢仔 is a hallmark of the Cantonese language's tendency to 'cutify' nouns, a feature much more common than in standard Mandarin.
Examples in context
- 有一隻細細隻嘅驢仔。jau5 jat1 zek3 sai3 sai3 cuk1 ge3 leoi4 zai2.There is a tiny little donkey.
Example conversation
Ka Yan and Ka Ming are looking at animals in a picture book.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan家明，睇下呢隻驢仔！ga1 ming4, tai2 haa5 ni1 zek3 lyu2 zai2!Ka Ming, look at this donkey!
- 家明 Ka Ming佢對耳真係好長。keoi5 deoi3 ji5 zan1 hai6 hou2 coeng4.Its ears are really long.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你鍾意唔鍾意驢仔？nei6 zung1 ji3 m4 zung1 ji3 lyu2 zai2?Do you like donkeys?
- 家明 Ka Ming我好鍾意，好得意。ngo5 hou2 zung1 ji3, hou2 dak1 ji3.I like them a lot, they are very cute.
