aa3 zai2亞仔亚仔
Jyutpingaa3 zai2
Yalea jái
Definition
Son, or a little boy.
- son
- little boy
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Used primarily as a term of endearment or a casual way to refer to a young boy, regardless of whether he is related to the speaker. When parents use it to refer to their own child, it often carries a tone of affection or familiarity. It is also common for older adults to call a young male stranger 亞仔 to be friendly.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
This little boy is very well-behaved and always helps with chores.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in formal or professional settings, as it can sound overly casual or even condescending depending on the age gap. It is strictly for informal, interpersonal communication.
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.
