go1 go1 zai2哥哥仔
Jyutpinggo1 go1 zai2
Yalegō gō jái
Definition
Young adult male (spoken)
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Adding the diminutive suffix 仔 to 哥哥 softens the tone, turning a standard term for an older brother into a friendly, slightly informal way to address a young man you do not know. It is commonly used by service staff or older people to sound polite yet approachable. Be aware that in specific contexts, it can carry a connotation of a male worker in the adult entertainment industry, so context is key.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
go4 go1 zai2 maa4 faan4 bong1 ngo5 ling1 haa5 le1 doi6 je5
哥哥仔，麻煩幫我拎下呢袋嘢。
Hey young man, could you please help me carry this bag?
go2 go3 go4 go1 zai2 hou2 ci5 hai2 dou6 wan2 gan2 jan4
嗰個哥哥仔好似喺度搵緊人。
That young man seems to be looking for someone.
Related words
Common phrases
hau6 saang1 go4 go1 zai2
後生哥哥仔
young fella
Common mistake
Do not use this to address someone who is clearly much older than you, as it might sound patronizing or sarcastic. It is strictly reserved for young men who appear to be around your age or younger.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
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.
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
