gaa1 jim4家嚴家严

Jyutpinggaa1 jim4

Yalegā yìhm

名詞

Definition

My father; a polite, humble way to refer to one's own father when speaking to others.

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How it's used

This term is a humble way to refer to one's own father when speaking to others, reflecting traditional Confucian values of modesty. It is strictly used for self-reference and never to address someone else's father, which would be considered highly inappropriate or confusing. Because it sounds quite formal and old-fashioned, it is rarely heard in casual daily conversation among younger generations.

Examples

gaa1家jim4嚴gam1今jat6日m4唔syu1舒fuk6服，lau4留zo2咗喺hai2屋uk1企。

My father is not feeling well today, so he stayed home.

nei5你gin3見gwo3過gaa1家jim4嚴mei6未aa4呀？

Have you met my father yet?

Common phrases

gaa1家jim4嚴gaa1家ci4慈

my parents

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general term for father, but it is exclusively for referring to your own father in a humble, formal context. Using it to address someone else's father is a significant social error.