hou2 pang4 jau5好朋友
Jyutpinghou2 pang4 jau5
Yalehóu pàhng yáuh
Definition
A close, intimate, and trusted friend.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using this term implies a level of intimacy and trust that goes beyond casual acquaintances. While it is a standard term, it is often used to distinguish someone from a wider circle of friends or colleagues. It is common to hear people clarify the depth of a relationship by adding modifiers like 真係 or 最好 before it.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
They are good friends and always hang out together.
Related words
Common phrases
best friend
to become good friends again
Common mistake
Learners often use this term too broadly for anyone they know. In Cantonese, simply knowing someone or hanging out occasionally does not make them a 好朋友, which implies a deeper, more reliable bond.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
