daai6 zoeng6 fu1大丈夫
Jyutpingdaai6 zoeng6 fu1
Yaledaaih jeuhng fū
Definition
A manly, strong-willed, and principled man; a real man or tough guy.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This term carries a traditional, somewhat old-fashioned sense of masculine virtue, emphasizing resilience and stoicism. It is often used to praise someone for their courage or to encourage someone to be strong in the face of adversity. While it sounds slightly dramatic or literary in casual conversation, it is still widely understood as a compliment for a man who handles pressure well.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He really is a tough guy, he is not afraid of any difficulties.
You should act like a real man and stop crying all the time.
Related words
Common phrases
A real man knows when to yield and when to stand firm.
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Japanese word daijoubu, which means okay or fine. In Cantonese, this term strictly refers to a person's character and gender, never to the state of being alright.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
