aa3 mui2阿妹
Definition
Younger sister, or an affectionate address for a little girl or a younger female friend.
- younger sister
- an affectionate term of address for a little girl
- an affectionate term of address for a younger female friend of the same generation
How it's used
Using this term for strangers creates an immediate sense of friendliness and informality, often used by service staff or older people when speaking to younger women. It carries a warm, protective, or patronizing tone depending on the context and the age gap between the speakers. While it is common to use it for a younger sister, it is equally frequent as a generic, affectionate label for any young girl or woman who is clearly younger than the speaker.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in professional or formal settings, as it can sound overly familiar or even disrespectful to someone you do not know well. It is strictly a colloquial term and should never be used in written business communication or when addressing superiors.
Grammar color guide
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).
