aa3 baak3阿伯
Jyutpingaa3 baak3
Yalea baak
Definition
One's father's elder brother, or a casual term of address for an elderly man.
- father's elder brother; uncle
- an elderly man
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Beyond referring to a father's elder brother, this term is frequently used as a generic, polite, or sometimes slightly blunt way to address an elderly man in public. Using it shows a sense of community respect, though it can sound dismissive if the tone is impatient. It is functionally similar to addressing a stranger as 'sir' but with a more informal, neighborhood feel.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Uncle, do you know where the bus stop is nearby?
My uncle really likes going to the park to play chess with people.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to address a man who is clearly not elderly, as it can sound like you are calling them old. If you are unsure of someone's age, stick to neutral terms or titles.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
