go1 zai2歌仔

Jyutpinggo1 zai2

Yalegō jái

Rare

Definition

Song, ditty, or ballad.

colloquialother

How it's used

Adding the diminutive suffix 仔 to 歌 creates a sense of nostalgia or intimacy, often referring to simple, traditional, or children's songs rather than modern pop music. It carries a warm, informal tone that implies the song is easy to sing or has been passed down through generations. While it can literally mean a small song, it is most frequently used to evoke a feeling of childhood or local heritage.

Measure word

sau2首sáu

Examples

sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣，aa3阿maa5媽seng4成jat6日coeng3唱go1歌zai2仔bei2畀ngo5我teng1聽。

When I was little, my mom often sang folk songs to me.

nei5你sik1識m4唔sik1識coeng3唱le1呢sau2首gau6舊go1歌zai2仔aa4呀？

Do you know how to sing this old folk song?

Common phrases

coeng3唱go1歌zai2仔

to sing a folk song

gau6舊go1歌zai2仔

old folk song

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 歌星, which refers to a professional pop singer. Using 歌仔 to describe a complex or modern pop song will sound unnatural, as the term is reserved for simpler, folk, or nursery-style melodies.