貓頭鷹 / 猫头鹰
maau¹ tau⁴ jing¹
The Cantonese word for owl is 貓頭鷹 / 猫头鹰 (maau¹ tau⁴ jing¹). Wiktionary also lists 鴞 / 鸮 (hiu¹) and 鴟鴞 / 鸱鸮 (ci¹ hiu¹).
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 貓頭鷹 / 猫头鹰 | maau¹ tau⁴ jing¹ | |
| 鴞 / 鸮 | hiu¹ | formal |
| 鴟鴞 / 鸱鸮 | ci¹ hiu¹ | formal |
The term refers to the bird known as an owl.
What does it mean word for word?
The common term 貓頭鷹 / 猫头鹰 literally translates to "cat head eagle".
Which one should you use?
貓頭鷹 / 猫头鹰 is the standard, everyday way to say owl in spoken Cantonese. In contrast, the single-character forms 鴞 / 鸮 are used in formal, literary or scientific contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
貓頭鷹 / 猫头鹰 is used in daily conversation, whereas 鴞 / 鸮 are formal versions suitable for literature or scientific writing.
How do you pronounce it?
maau¹ tau⁴ jing¹
Did you know?
- In some Cantonese folklore and traditional superstitions, the appearance of an owl is sometimes viewed as an omen of bad luck or even death, which is quite different from the 'wise owl' archetype found in English-speaking cultures.
- Cantonese speakers often use animal-based metaphors for personality, but calling someone a 貓頭鷹 usually refers to their sleep schedule rather than their wisdom.
- If you were reading an ancient Cantonese poem, you might encounter the character 鸱, which is an archaic way to refer to the same bird without using the modern 'cat head' description.
Examples in context
- 我鍾意貓頭鷹，好可愛呀！I love owls, they are so adorable!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
