baa1爸
Jyutpingbaa1
Yalebā
Definition
Dad, father, or daddy.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Using 爸 as a standalone term of address is less common in daily speech than 阿爸 or 老豆. While 爸 is perfectly understandable, it often sounds slightly more formal or influenced by Mandarin, whereas native speakers almost always add the prefix 阿 to family titles when referring to their own parents.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Is your dad not needing to go to work today?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 爸 as a direct address to your own father in casual conversation, as it can sound stiff or overly literary. Most people prefer calling their father 阿爸 or 爹哋.
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.
