ji6 mou5誼母谊母

Jyutpingji6 mou5

Yaleyih móuh

Definition

Godmother

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How it's used

This term refers to a woman who has a formal, ritualistic bond with a child, often established through traditional customs. It carries a sense of familial respect and is distinct from a biological mother or a stepmother. While less common in modern urban life, it remains a recognized social role within traditional family structures.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢hai6係ngo5我ji6誼mou5母，deoi3對ngo5我hou2好hou2好㗎。

She is my godmother and treats me very well.

nei5你gei2幾si4時daai3帶ngo5我heoi3去gin3見nei5你ji6誼mou5母aa4呀？

When will you take me to meet your godmother?

Common phrases

jing6認ji6誼mou5母

to acknowledge someone as a godmother

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 契媽, which is the much more common, everyday term for godmother. 誼母 sounds formal and slightly literary, so it is rarely used in casual conversation compared to 契媽.