aau1 wu1 po2坳胡婆
Jyutpingaau1 wu1 po2
Yaleāau wū pó
Definition
A bogeywoman or scary woman from folklore used to frighten children into behaving.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
This term functions as a cultural boogeyman used by parents to discourage misbehavior in young children. It represents a mythical, frightening female figure who lurks in the dark or comes to snatch away disobedient kids. While the specific name varies by region and generation, it serves the same psychological purpose as the Western bogeyman.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
If you don't listen, the bogeyman will come and catch you.
Related words
Common phrases
the bogeyman catching people
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a literal description of an elderly woman, as it is strictly a mythical character used for discipline. Using it to describe a real person would be considered extremely rude and offensive.
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.
