biu2 dai6表弟
Jyutpingbiu2 dai6
Yalebíu daih
Definition
Younger male cousin on one's mother's side, or father's sister's side.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Kinship terms in Cantonese are highly specific regarding age and lineage. Unlike English which uses cousin for everyone, Cantonese distinguishes between older and younger cousins, as well as the specific side of the family. Using 表弟 correctly implies the cousin is younger than the speaker and belongs to a branch of the family that does not share the same surname.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My younger male cousin is coming to visit me next week.
Is your younger male cousin studying at that university?
Related words
Common phrases
close younger male cousin
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 表弟 for any male cousin. Remember that if the cousin is older than you, you must use 表哥 instead. Also, if the cousin is on your father's brother's side, they are considered 堂兄弟 and not 表兄弟.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
