gaa1 siu2家小
Jyutpinggaa1 siu2
Yalegā síu
Definition
One's wife and children; family.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Carries a slightly old fashioned or formal tone, often used by middle aged or older men to refer to their dependents collectively. It implies a sense of responsibility and burden, framing the family as a unit that relies on the speaker for financial support. It is rarely used in casual conversation among younger generations, who prefer more specific terms like 老婆 or 屋企人.
Examples
I still have to support my wife and children, I cannot quit.
Related words
Common phrases
to support one's wife and children
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 家人, which is a general term for family members. Using 家小 specifically highlights the role of the speaker as the provider for their spouse and offspring.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
