gung1 gung1 po4 po4公公婆婆
Jyutpinggung1 gung1 po4 po4
Yalegūng gūng pòh pòh
Definition
Grandparents; elderly people.
- grandparents (specifically maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother)
- elderly men and women
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
This term refers specifically to the maternal side of the family, meaning the mother's father and mother. It is a warm, affectionate collective term often used when talking about visiting or caring for them. While it can technically refer to any elderly couple in a generic sense, it is most commonly used by children or grandchildren to refer to their own maternal grandparents.
Examples
I will go visit my grandparents tomorrow.
Are your grandparents in good health?
Related words
Common phrases
visit grandparents
keep grandparents company
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to your father's parents, who are called 爺爺奶奶. Using the wrong term for the wrong side of the family is a common mistake for learners.
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.
