jau5友
Jyutpingjau5
Yaleyáuh
Definition
Guy, dude, or bloke; a colloquial and sometimes slightly impolite way to refer to a person.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using this term to describe someone can sound dismissive or even hostile depending on the context and tone. While it is common to hear it among close friends, using it to refer to strangers or people in positions of authority is often seen as rude or provocative. It is almost always paired with the classifier 條, which itself carries a slightly derogatory nuance when applied to people.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to someone you want to show respect to, as it strips away formality and can sound like you are looking down on the person. It is not a neutral way to say person or man.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
