龜 / 龟
gwai¹
In Cantonese, "turtle" is expressed as 龜 / 龟 (gwai¹). If unsure, use 龜 / 龟. Wiktionary also lists 烏龜 / 乌龟 (wu¹ gwai¹).
Meaning: land or marine reptile with a shell (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 龜 / 龟 | gwai¹ |
| 烏龜 / 乌龟 | wu¹ gwai¹ |
The term refers to land or marine reptiles with a shell.
Which one should you use?
龜 / 龟 is the default term, while 烏龜 / 乌龟 is also used to refer to a turtle. If you are referring specifically to small or baby turtles, the informal term 龜仔 (gwāi jái) is used. For formal contexts, especially when referring to freshwater turtles like the soft-shell turtle, the term 甲魚 (gāap jyùh) is employed.
How do you pronounce it?
gwai¹
When do people say it?
In Cantonese culture, calling someone a 龜 / 龟 is a common insult, often implying they are a cuckold or a person of low character.
Did you know?
- In traditional divination, the belly of a 龜 / 龟 was burned to read the cracks, a practice that influenced early writing and recording in the region.
- In Cantonese, the word 龜 / 龟 can be used to describe a 'cuckold', a meaning that stems from ancient folklore where turtles were thought to be unfaithful or replaced in their shells.
- In certain traditional Cantonese contexts, the term 龜 / 龟 can actually be used as a positive symbol for longevity and long life.
Examples in context
- 我喺動物園見到一隻小龜仔。I saw a baby turtle at the zoo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turtle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
