aa3 gu1阿姑
Jyutpingaa3 gu1
Yalea gū
Definition
An informal address for a middle-aged woman, similar to "auntie".
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using this term is a way to address a woman who is clearly older than the speaker but not necessarily a relative. It carries a slightly more informal and sometimes blunt tone compared to the more polite 姨姨 or 女士. In retail or market settings, it is frequently used by shopkeepers to get the attention of female customers.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Auntie, is there any seat available here?
Related words
Common mistake
Be careful with the age implication, as calling someone 阿姑 who considers herself young can be perceived as rude or dismissive. It is strictly a term for strangers or acquaintances and should not be used for your own actual aunt, for whom you would use specific kinship terms like 姑媽 or 阿姨.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
