dai6弟
Jyutpingdai6
Yaledaih
Definition
Younger brother.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
While 弟 is a formal character used in compound words like 弟婦 or 賢弟, it is almost never used alone in spoken Cantonese to refer to a younger brother. Instead, the colloquial term 細佬 is the standard way to identify a younger brother in daily conversation. Using 弟 by itself in a casual setting sounds overly formal or like a line from a period drama.
Measure word
go3個goRelated words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 弟 as a standalone noun because they see it in textbooks, but using it to address or talk about a sibling will sound unnatural to native speakers. Always use 細佬 for the person and reserve 弟 for formal written contexts or specific compound nouns.
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.
