fu5 jan4婦人妇人
Jyutpingfu5 jan4
Yalefúh yàhn
Definition
A married woman; a wife.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to a woman who is married, carrying a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the everyday term 女人. It is commonly used in news reports or formal descriptions rather than casual conversation between friends. Using it to describe a young, unmarried woman can sound awkward or incorrect.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
That woman seems to be looking for her son.
Related words
Common phrases
middle-aged woman
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to any woman in general, as it specifically implies marital status. In everyday casual speech, use 女人 or 小姐 instead to avoid sounding overly formal or stiff.
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.
