fu1 cai1夫妻
Jyutpingfu1 cai1
Yalefū chāi
Definition
Husband and wife; a married couple.
neutralpeoplefamily
How it's used
While 夫妻 is understood in Cantonese, it is a formal term primarily used in writing or when discussing the relationship in a detached, objective way. In daily spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use the term 兩公婆 to refer to a married couple. Using 夫妻 in casual conversation can sound slightly stiff or like you are reading from a news report.
Measure word
deoi3對deuiExamples
They have been husband and wife for many years.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 夫妻 as a direct address when speaking to a couple, as it sounds unnatural. Use 兩公婆 instead when referring to them in the third person or talking about their relationship.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
