baak3 jau5百有
Jyutpingbaak3 jau5
Yalebaak yáuh
Definition
A colloquial term used to address the mother of one's friend.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
This term is a specific, affectionate way to refer to a friend's mother, often used by children or close family friends. It functions similarly to the English 'Auntie' but carries a warmer, more communal tone within a social circle. It is rarely used in formal settings and is most common in residential neighborhoods where families know each other well.
Examples
Auntie, hello, are you free to come over and hang out today?
Your friend's mom cooks well, stay for dinner before you leave.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the standard term 姨姨, but 百有 is specifically tied to the mother of a peer or friend. Using it for a stranger or a formal acquaintance can sound overly familiar or confusing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
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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).
