gaa1 gu1家姑
Jyutpinggaa1 gu1
Yalegā gū
Definition
A woman's mother-in-law; husband's mother.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the husband's mother from the perspective of the wife. It is a traditional term that carries a slightly more formal or respectful weight compared to the more modern or casual ways of addressing her directly. In modern Hong Kong, many people simply use the English loanword or address her by her role in the family hierarchy.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My relationship with my mother-in-law is very harmonious.
Is your mother-in-law coming for dim sum today?
Related words
Common phrases
to serve or take care of one's mother-in-law
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 奶奶, which is the most common colloquial term for mother-in-law in Hong Kong. While 家姑 is understood, it sounds more traditional or literary, whereas 奶奶 is the standard term used in daily conversation.
Grammar color guide
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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.
