bou2寳
Jyutpingbou2
Yalebóu
Definition
Treasure, jewel, or baby; also used as a polite honorific for "your" or in triad rituals.
- treasure; jewel; precious object
- baby; darling
- your (esteemed)
- slanga poem used in triad rituals
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Refers primarily to something highly cherished or valuable, often used affectionately for children or pets as 寶貝. When applied to objects, it frequently carries a slightly ironic tone, implying that the speaker thinks the item is junk while the owner treats it like a priceless artifact. It also appears in formal or literary contexts to denote something esteemed, such as 寶號 for a business name.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 寶 directly as a standalone adjective for expensive things, as it sounds archaic or poetic; use 貴重 or 貴 instead. In modern speech, it is almost exclusively used as a noun or part of a compound word.
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.
