aa3 zai2阿仔啊仔

Jyutpingaa3 zai2

Yalea jái

名詞Common

Definition

Son; used to refer to one's own son or informally to someone else's son.

colloquialfamilypeople

How it's used

Parents use this term as a warm, affectionate way to address their own son, but it is also frequently used by older adults to address younger males in a friendly or patronizing manner. It carries a sense of intimacy and informality that the more formal 兒子 lacks. Using it with someone you do not know well can sound overly familiar or even condescending depending on the age gap.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

aa3阿zai2仔，nei5你gam1今jat6日faan1返hok6學jau5有mou5冇daai3帶ze1遮aa4呀？

Son, did you bring an umbrella to school today?

ngo5我aa3阿zai2仔hou2好zung1鍾ji3意sik6食go2嗰gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳ge3嘅caa1叉siu1燒。

My son really likes eating the char siu from that restaurant.

Common phrases

gwaai1乖aa3阿zai2仔

good boy

daai6大aa3阿zai2仔

eldest son

Common mistake

Avoid using this to refer to your own son in formal business or professional settings, as it sounds too casual and domestic. Also, be careful not to use it with a male peer or someone older, as it implies a clear hierarchy where the speaker is in a parental or senior position.