jyu2嫗妪
Jyutpingjyu2
Yaleyú
Definition
An old woman, or to shelter and protect.
- literaryold woman
- literaryto brood over; to hatch; to shelter and protect
writtenpeople
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively found in formal, literary, or written contexts rather than everyday spoken Cantonese. In casual conversation, native speakers will almost always use 老婆婆 or 阿婆 to refer to an elderly woman. Using this term in speech can sound overly dramatic, archaic, or like a line from a period drama.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That old woman is sitting in the park resting.
Related words
Common phrases
old woman
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common noun, but it is highly formal and rarely used in daily life. Avoid using it in casual settings to prevent sounding unnatural or pretentious.
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.
