haau3 zi2孝子
Jyutpinghaau3 zi2
Yalehaau jí
Definition
A filial or dutiful son, or a son in mourning.
- a filial or dutiful son
- a son in mourning
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
This term carries a dual meaning that shifts depending on context. While it describes a person with strong filial piety in daily life, it also refers specifically to a son wearing traditional mourning attire during funeral rites. The latter usage is deeply tied to Chinese funerary customs where the son takes a central role in the ceremony.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He really is a dutiful son, always going home to keep his mother company.
During the funeral, the son in mourning has to stand at the door to greet relatives.
Related words
Common phrases
filial children and grandchildren
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 孝順, which is an adjective or verb describing the act of being filial. Using 孝子 to describe a daughter is incorrect; for a daughter, use 孝女.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
