baak3伯
Jyutpingbaak3
Yalebaak
Definition
Father's elder brother; uncle.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the father's elder brother, distinguishing him from the father's younger brother, who is called 叔. It is common to add 阿 before the term when addressing him directly or referring to him in conversation. Using the term correctly shows respect for the specific hierarchy within a traditional Chinese family structure.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I will go visit my uncle tomorrow.
Does your uncle live over there?
Related words
Common phrases
eldest uncle on father's side
formal term for father's elder brother
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 伯 with 叔, but they are not interchangeable; 伯 is strictly for the elder brother of the father, while 叔 is for the younger one.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
