jau5 san1 gei2有身紀有身纪
Jyutpingjau5 san1 gei2
Yaleyáuh sān géi
Definition
To be pregnant.
colloquialhealthpeople
How it's used
The term is a traditional, slightly formal way to describe pregnancy that is still widely understood but less common in casual speech than the more direct 有咗. It carries a slightly more polite or respectful tone compared to blunt alternatives. You will often hear it used with the aspect marker 咗 to indicate the state of being pregnant.
Examples
She is pregnant, so she cannot do heavy work now.
Related words
Common phrases
to be pregnant
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the more common colloquial phrase 有咗, which is a shortened version of having a baby. Using 有身紀 in a very casual setting might sound slightly old-fashioned or overly formal to some younger speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
