biu2 siu3表少
Jyutpingbiu2 siu3
Yalebíu siu
Definition
A term used to address the younger male cousin of one's husband, or historically used as a general term of address for young men.
- younger male cousin of one's husband
- datedgeneral term of address for young men
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the younger male cousin on the husband's side of the family. While it was once used as a polite, generic way to address young men in social settings, this usage has largely faded and can sound quite old fashioned or overly formal today.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Will your husband's younger male cousin come for dinner today?
I haven't seen my husband's younger male cousin for a long time, how is he doing?
Related words
Common phrases
husband's younger male cousin
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 表弟, which refers to your own younger male cousin. Using it to address a stranger today might cause confusion or sound like you are trying to establish a false sense of family intimacy.
Grammar color guide
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Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
