daai6 ji4 maa1大姨媽大姨妈
Jyutpingdaai6 ji4 maa1
Yaledaaih yìh mā
Definition
One's mother's eldest sister, or a euphemism for menstruation.
- mother's eldest sister
- slangmenstruation; period
colloquialfamilyhealth
How it's used
Referring to menstruation as 大姨媽 is a common euphemism that avoids direct clinical terms. It functions similarly to saying "Aunt Flo" in English, carrying a casual and slightly humorous tone. When used to refer to the actual relative, the context usually makes the distinction clear, though it is rarely ambiguous in daily conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My period has started, I don't want to go out today.
Are you about to have your period?
Related words
Common phrases
to have one's period
Common mistake
Do not use this term in formal or medical settings, as it is strictly colloquial. Beginners should also be careful not to confuse it with other relatives like 姨媽 or 姑媽, which refer specifically to aunts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
