daai6 maa1大孖
Jyutpingdaai6 maa1
Yaledaaih mā
Definition
The older twin; the twin who was born first.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
This term is used specifically to distinguish between twins based on birth order, which is culturally significant in many Chinese families. While it refers to the one born first, it does not necessarily imply any difference in physical size or personality. You will often hear it used alongside 細孖 to refer to the pair as a unit.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
They are twins, and the older twin is better at studying.
How do you tell the older twin and the younger twin apart?
Related words
Common phrases
the older and younger twins
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 長子, which refers to the eldest son in a family regardless of whether he is a twin. Using 大孖 for a non-twin sibling is incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
