gung1 zyu2公主
Jyutpinggung1 zyu2
Yalegūng jyú
Definition
Princess; a female member of a royal family, or the wife of a prince.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Beyond the literal royal meaning, this term is frequently used in a derogatory way to describe someone, usually a young woman, who is spoiled, entitled, or expects to be treated with excessive care. It is the core of the common slang term 公主病, which refers to a princess complex. When used in this sarcastic sense, it implies the person lacks independence and demands constant attention.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
She acts like a princess all the time, it's so annoying.
Related words
Common phrases
princess complex
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe a daughter in a literal sense, as it does not carry the same affectionate meaning as the English word princess might in some contexts. Using it to refer to a child who is not royalty will almost always be interpreted as a critique of her behavior.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
