gwaan1 fu1鰥夫鳏夫

Jyutpinggwaan1 fu1

Yalegwāan fū

名詞

Definition

An elderly unmarried man, or a widower.

writtenpeoplefamily

How it's used

This term carries a formal and slightly literary tone, often appearing in written descriptions or news reports rather than casual conversation. In everyday speech, people usually prefer descriptive phrases like 冇老婆嘅男人 or 喪妻嘅人 to convey the same meaning. It is rarely used to address someone directly as it can sound quite clinical or detached.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢lou5老po4婆zau2走zo2咗zi1之hau6後，bin3變zo2咗zou6做gwaan1鰥fu1夫。

After his wife passed away, he became a widower.

go2嗰wai6位gwaan1鰥fu1夫jat1一go3個jan4人zyu6住喺hai2舊gau6區。

That widower lives alone in the old district.

Common phrases

gu1孤duk6獨gwaan1鰥fu1夫

lonely widower

Common mistake

Avoid using this word to describe a man who is simply divorced or single, as it specifically implies the loss of a spouse through death or a state of being lifelong unmarried. Using it incorrectly can come across as insensitive or confusing to native speakers.