gwai1 mat6閨蜜闺蜜
Jyutpinggwai1 mat6
Yalegwāi maht
Definition
Close female friend; bestie.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Originally a literary term referring to a woman's private quarters, this word has been fully adopted into modern colloquial Cantonese to describe a platonic soulmate. It implies a level of intimacy and trust that goes beyond a casual acquaintance. While it is almost exclusively used for female friendships, it captures the specific cultural expectation of having a confidante to share life's ups and downs with.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
She is my best friend, I can tell her all my secrets.
Where are you and your bestie going to eat tonight?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe male friends, as it carries a strong feminine connotation. For a male equivalent, use 兄弟 or 老死 instead.
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.
