aa3 baa1阿爸
Jyutpingaa3 baa1
Yalea bā
Definition
Father; dad; daddy.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Using 阿爸 is the most standard and affectionate way to address or refer to one's father in daily life. Unlike the more formal 父親, which is restricted to written contexts or formal introductions, 阿爸 fits naturally into any casual conversation. It is common to drop the 阿 and simply call him 爸 when speaking directly to him, especially as children grow older.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Dad is coming home for dinner tonight.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 父親 when speaking to your own family members, as it sounds overly distant and stiff. Also, be careful not to confuse 阿爸 with 伯伯, which is a respectful term for an older man who is not your relative.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
