gon1 de1乾爹干爹
Jyutpinggon1 de1
Yalegōn dē
Definition
Godfather; a nominal father who is not biologically related.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers to a social bond rather than a legal one, often implying a mentor or benefactor relationship. While it can be a genuine term of endearment, it is sometimes used sarcastically or with suspicion in modern slang to imply a transactional or inappropriate relationship between an older man and a younger person.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
When are you going to bring your godfather out for a meal?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid confusing this with 契爺, which is the more common and traditional term for godfather in Cantonese. Using 乾爹 can sound slightly more Mandarin-influenced or formal compared to the native 契爺.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
