go1 zai2哥仔
Jyutpinggo1 zai2
Yalegō jái
Definition
Young man or boy; or a friendly term of address for a male service worker or peer.
- young man; boy
- friendly term of address for a young male, such as a waiter or shopkeeper
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Used primarily to address or refer to a young man in a casual, slightly informal way. It carries a friendly or neutral tone, often used by service staff or when calling out to a stranger whose name is unknown. While it can sound polite, it is not appropriate for formal business settings or when addressing someone significantly older.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to address someone who is clearly middle-aged or elderly, as it specifically implies a younger man. Using it for a senior might come across as condescending or disrespectful.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
