Animals

1. 狗

   gau2

   Dog

   Usage

   Worth knowing: "bei2 gau2 ngaau5 zo2" — a dog bit me

2. 貓

   maau1

   Cat

   Usage

   Hong Kong's shopfront cats ("pou3 tau2 maau1") are an institution. Do not pet without asking

3. 雀仔

   zoek3 zai2

   Bird

   Usage

   Cantonese prefers "zoek3 zai2" to "niu5". Mong Kok's Yuen Po Street Bird Garden is the place to see them

4. 魚

   jyu2

   Fish

   Usage

   The same word covers the animal and the dish. At seafood markets you usually pick a live one

5. 馬

   maa5

   Horse

   Usage

   Horse racing is part of Hong Kong life. "Paau2 maa5 dei2" (Happy Valley) is named after its racecourse

6. 牛

   ngau4

   Cow

   Usage

   Feral cattle wander the roadsides on Lantau and in Sai Kung. Beef is "ngau4 juk6"

7. 豬

   zyu1

   Pig

   Usage

   Pork is "zyu1 juk6". The roast-meat shop's "caa1 siu1" is pork too

8. 雞

   gai1

   Chicken

   Usage

   Chicken meat is "gai1 juk6". Also useful for showing what you must avoid

9. 鴨

   aap3

   Duck

   Usage

   Familiar from the roast-meat shop window as "siu1 aap3"

10. 鵝

    ngo4

    Goose

    Usage

    Sham Tseng's "siu1 ngo4" (roast goose) is a Hong Kong speciality. Useful for asking how it differs from duck

11. 羊

    joeng4

    Sheep

    Usage

    The word behind the winter speciality "joeng4 naam5 bou1", a lamb brisket clay pot

12. 大象

    daai6 zoeng6

    Elephant

    Usage

    There are no wild elephants in Hong Kong — you will mostly use it at a zoo or about artwork

13. 馬騮

    maa5 lau1

    Monkey

    Usage

    A Cantonese-only word. Kam Shan Country Park ("maa5 lau1 saan1") has wild macaques that go for bags and food. Feeding them is illegal

14. 老虎

    lou5 fu2

    Tiger

    Usage

    No wild tigers here, but the motif is everywhere in temples and art

15. 熊貓

    hung4 maau1

    Panda

    Usage

    Giant pandas live at Ocean Park. Note the Cantonese word order differs from the Mandarin "xióngmāo"

16. 蛇

    se4

    Snake

    Usage

    You may meet one on Hong Kong's country-park trails. If bitten, show "bei2 se4 ngaau5 zo2" and get to a hospital fast

17. 龜

    gwai1

    Turtle

    Usage

    Seen in temple ponds and markets. "Gwai1 ling4 gou1" is the herbal turtle jelly

18. 青蛙

    cing1 waa1

    Frog

    Usage

    Loud at night in rural wetlands. The edible kind is called "tin4 gai1" on menus

19. 壁虎

    bik1 fu2

    Gecko

    Usage

    Lives on walls and ceilings; harmless and it eats mosquitoes. Colloquial Cantonese also calls it "jim4 se4"

20. 蜥蜴

    sik1 jik6

    Lizard

    Usage

    Seen on trails and stone walls. Use it when you need to distinguish it from a gecko

21. 老鼠

    lou5 syu2

    Mouse / Rat

    Usage

    Use it to report one to the front desk. "Fong2 jap6 min6 jau5 lou5 syu2" means there is a rat in my room

22. 兔仔

    tou3 zai2

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Cantonese uses "tou3 zai2", not the Mandarin "tùzi". It comes up with the Mid-Autumn moon rabbit

23. 蝙蝠

    pin1 fuk1

    Bat

    Usage

    Seen at dusk in parks and on the outlying islands. "Fuk1" sounds like "good fortune", so bats appear in lucky motifs

24. 野豬

    je5 zyu1

    Wild boar

    Usage

    They come down into Hong Kong's urban areas. Feeding them is illegal — keep your distance and walk away quietly

25. 蚊

    man1

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Cantonese uses the single character. Show it to ask for repellent. Note "man1" also colloquially means "dollar" — context makes it clear

26. 曱甴

    gaat6 zaat2

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Cantonese-only characters. The most persuasive reason to ask for a different room — show it at the front desk

27. 蟻

    ngai5

    Ant

    Usage

    Cantonese uses the single character. They always find food left in a room

28. 蜜蜂

    mat6 fung1

    Bee

    Usage

    If stung, say "bei2 mat6 fung1 zam1 zo2". Hornets are "wong4 fung1" and far more dangerous

29. 蜘蛛

    zi1 zyu1

    Spider

    Usage

    Common in old buildings and on trails. Nearly all are harmless

30. 蜈蚣

    ng4 gung1

    Centipede

    Usage

    Found in damp places; the bite hurts badly. Check inside your shoes before putting them on

31. 蝴蝶

    wu4 dip6

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Fung Yuen in Tai Po is known as a butterfly reserve

32. 烏蠅

    wu1 jing1

    Fly

    Usage

    Cantonese says "wu1 jing1", not the Mandarin "cāngying". Common at stalls and wet markets

33. 水母

    seoi2 mou5

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    Appears at beaches in summer. If stung, say "bei2 seoi2 mou5 zam1 zo2" and head for the lifeguard station

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