aa3 je4亞爺亚爷
Jyutpingaa3 je4
Yalea yèh
Definition
Paternal grandfather; also used figuratively to refer to the central government in Beijing.
- paternal grandfather
- slangthe central government of the People's Republic of China
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the paternal grandfather. It is a warm, colloquial term that sounds much more natural in conversation than the formal 祖父. Using 亞 before kinship terms is a standard way to make them sound more personal and affectionate in Cantonese.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 爺爺, which is also used for paternal grandfather but can sound slightly more like a child's term. Using 亞爺 is common for adults speaking about their own grandfather to others.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
