gu1 ji4孤兒孤儿
Jyutpinggu1 ji4
Yalegū yìh
Definition
Orphan; a child who has lost both parents.
neutralpeoplefamily
How it's used
Refers specifically to a child who has lost both parents. It carries a heavy emotional weight and is rarely used in casual banter unless discussing social welfare or personal history. When referring to someone who has lost only one parent, it is more accurate to describe their specific situation rather than using this term.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He became an orphan when he was very young, it's so tragic.
Do you know where there is an orphanage?
Related words
Common phrases
orphanage
Common mistake
Avoid using this word as an adjective to describe someone who is simply lonely or friendless, as it specifically denotes the loss of parents. Using it metaphorically to describe a person without a group can sound insensitive or offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
