ji4 biu2姨表
Jyutpingji4 biu2
Yaleyìh bíu
Definition
The relationship between cousins whose mothers are sisters.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
Cantonese kinship terms are highly specific and distinguish between maternal and paternal sides. Using 姨表 clarifies that the connection is through the mother's sister, whereas 堂 refers to the father's side. While many people simply use 表親 to cover all cousins on the mother's side, 姨表 is the precise term for children of sisters.
Examples
He is my cousin, we played together a lot when we were kids.
Are you and him related through your mothers being sisters?
Related words
Common phrases
male cousin (maternal side)
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 堂 and 表. Remember that 堂 is exclusively for the father's side, specifically children of his brothers, while 姨表 is strictly for the mother's side.
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.
