gam1 saan1 aa3 baak3金山阿伯
Definition
An elderly Chinese man who returns to China after working or living in America, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries.
How it's used
Historically, this term referred to Chinese immigrants who struck it rich in the California Gold Rush and returned to their home villages in Guangdong. Over time, it evolved into a slightly mocking or teasing label for someone who displays excessive wealth or acts like a big spender. It is rarely used to describe actual elderly people today, functioning more as a metaphor for someone showing off their financial status.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe any elderly person from the United States, as it carries a specific historical connotation of wealth and return migration. Using it for a regular senior citizen can be confusing or unintentionally offensive.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
