gai3 mou5繼母继母
Jyutpinggai3 mou5
Yalegai móuh
Definition
Stepmother; a father's second or subsequent wife.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
While 繼母 is the formal term for a stepmother, it is rarely used in direct address within a family. Most people will refer to their stepmother by a title like 阿姨 or even just by her name depending on the family dynamic. Using the term 繼母 in conversation often carries a slightly distant or clinical tone, similar to saying stepmother in English rather than mom.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
When he was young, his stepmother treated him very badly.
Do you have a good relationship with your stepmother?
Related words
Common phrases
wicked stepmother
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 繼母 as a term of address when speaking to their parent's new spouse. This is considered very rude and cold, as it emphasizes the legal or biological distance between you and the person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
