daai6 baak3大伯
Jyutpingdaai6 baak3
Yaledaaih baak
Definition
One's father's older brother, or one's husband's older brother.
- father's older brother; paternal uncle
- husband's older brother; brother-in-law
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Kinship terms in Cantonese are highly specific based on the exact relationship to the speaker. Using 大伯 correctly distinguishes the father's older brother from the father's younger brother, who is called 叔叔. When referring to a husband's older brother, it is common to add the prefix 伯 to show respect if speaking directly to him.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My uncle is coming over for dinner next week.
Does your husband's older brother work at that company?
Related words
Common phrases
a more formal or respectful way to address a husband's older brother
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 伯伯, which is a generic, polite term for an elderly man who is not a relative. Using 大伯 for a stranger is incorrect and implies a specific family connection that does not exist.
Grammar color guide
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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.
