aa3 je4阿爺阿爷
Jyutpingaa3 je4
Yalea yèh
Definition
Paternal grandfather, or a nickname for the Central People's Government of the PRC.
- paternal grandfather
- slangthe Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of paternal grandfather, this term is frequently used in political discourse to refer to the central government in Beijing. It carries a nuanced, slightly detached, or sometimes ironic tone depending on the speaker's intent. Using it for the government implies a hierarchical relationship where the central authority holds ultimate power.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I am going back to my hometown tomorrow to visit my paternal grandfather.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this term to address your grandfather directly, as it is a third-person reference. When speaking to your grandfather, use 爺爺 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
