dau3 muk6 lou2鬥木佬斗木佬
Jyutpingdau3 muk6 lou2
Yaledau muhk lóu
Definition
Carpenter; a person who does woodwork or construction with wood.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
The suffix 佬 carries a strong colloquial and sometimes slightly rough or informal tone, typical of how tradespeople are referred to in street-level Cantonese. It is not necessarily derogatory, but it is definitely not a formal title like 木匠. Use this term when speaking casually about someone's trade rather than in a professional or written context.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That carpenter has great technique, the table he made is very sturdy.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in formal settings or when addressing the person directly, as it can sound overly familiar or disrespectful. Use 師傅 instead if you want to be polite and show professional respect.
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.
