can1 suk6親屬亲属
Jyutpingcan1 suk6
Yalechān suhk
Definition
Relatives; people related by blood.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
This term is formal and typically appears in legal, administrative, or genealogical contexts rather than casual conversation. When speaking about family members in daily life, people almost always use more specific terms like 屋企人 or 親戚. Using this word in a relaxed setting can make you sound like you are reading from a government document or a census form.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
Many of his relatives live abroad.
Which other relatives do you have in Hong Kong?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to refer to your own immediate family members in casual chat, as it sounds overly clinical and distant. Stick to 親戚 for general relatives and 屋企人 for family.
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.
