baak3 mou5伯母
Jyutpingbaak3 mou5
Yalebaak móuh
Definition
Polite form of address or reference to a friend's mother or a woman of one's parent's generation.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Using 伯母 is the standard, polite way to address a friend's mother regardless of her actual age. It conveys respect and distance, making it safer than using terms like 阿婆 which can sound rude or imply she is elderly. It is also common to use this term when speaking to a friend about their mother to show politeness.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
Auntie, this is a gift I bought for you.
Did you see your mother today?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 伯母 to address a stranger, as it specifically implies a social connection through a friend or acquaintance. If you are addressing an older woman you do not know, use 阿姐 or 婆婆 depending on her perceived age.
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.
