de1 di6爹哋
Jyutpingde1 di6
Yaledē dih
Definition
Daddy or dad; a transliteration of the English word.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
This term is a direct phonetic loan from English and carries a warm, affectionate tone similar to daddy. It is primarily used by children or by adults when speaking about their fathers in a casual or endearing way. Using it in formal settings or when referring to someone else's father in a professional context can sound overly intimate or childish.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Does your dad have to go to work today?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to refer to an elderly man or a stranger, as it is strictly reserved for one's own father or a child's father. If you are unsure of the appropriate level of formality, use 爸爸 instead.
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.
