gaa1 gaau3家教
Jyutpinggaa1 gaau3
Yalegā gaau
Definition
One's upbringing and family education, especially as reflected in one's manners and behavior.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Refers specifically to the moral and social training received at home rather than academic schooling. It is frequently used as a judgment on a person's character or family background when they display either exceptional manners or a complete lack thereof. Using it to describe someone as having no家教 is a strong, often offensive, criticism of their parents' failure to raise them properly.
Examples
He is so rude, he really has no upbringing.
Look at how well-bred he is, he speaks very politely.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin meaning of private tutoring, which is also written as 家教. In Cantonese, private tutoring is almost always referred to as 補習.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
