bo1 jau5波友
Jyutpingbo1 jau5
Yalebō yáuh
Definition
Friends or teammates with whom one plays ball games.
colloquialpeoplesports
How it's used
The suffix 友 is highly productive in Cantonese for creating informal labels for people who share a specific hobby or activity. While primarily used for football, it can occasionally be extended to other ball games depending on the context. It implies a casual, friendly relationship built through regular participation in the sport rather than a deep personal friendship outside the pitch.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I have arranged to go play football with some of my football buddies tonight.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 朋友, which refers to friends in general. Using 波友 implies the relationship is specifically defined by the shared activity of playing ball games.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
