baak3 noeng4伯娘
Jyutpingbaak3 noeng4
Yalebaak nèuhng
Definition
Wife of father's elder brother; aunt.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
This term specifically refers to the wife of one's father's elder brother. In Cantonese kinship, precision is highly valued, and using the wrong title for an aunt can be seen as disrespectful or confusing. While younger generations might occasionally use generic terms like 阿姨, using the correct title shows a strong grasp of family hierarchy.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I am going to my aunt's house for dinner next week.
Related words
Common phrases
visit aunt
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 伯母, which is a polite way to address any woman of your parents' generation, regardless of whether she is actually related to you.
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.
