gu1姑
Jyutpinggu1
Yalegū
Definition
Female; lady; woman.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to paternal relatives or young women in traditional contexts. While 姑姐 is the standard term for a father's sister, 姑娘 is often used as a polite way to address a young woman or a nurse in a hospital setting. It carries a slightly old-fashioned or formal nuance compared to modern terms like 女仔.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 姨, which refers to a mother's sister. Using 姑 to address a maternal aunt is a common mistake for learners who are not familiar with the strict distinction between paternal and maternal sides in Cantonese kinship terms.
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.
