jyu4余

Jyutpingjyu4

Yaleyùh

代詞Common

Definition

I; me.

writtenpeople

How it's used

Using 余 as a first-person pronoun is strictly restricted to formal writing, literary compositions, or highly stylized speech. In almost all daily interactions, native speakers use 我 exclusively. Attempting to use 余 in casual conversation will sound extremely unnatural or overly dramatic, as if one is reciting a classical poem or mimicking archaic language.

Examples

jyu4余gam1今jat6日m4唔dak1得haan4閒。

I am not free today.

jyu4余ho2可ji5以bong1幫nei5你sau2手aa3呀。

I can give you a hand.

Common phrases

jyu4余dang2等

jyu4余bui3輩

our group

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common pronoun because it appears in classical texts, but it is never used in spoken Cantonese. Using it in a normal conversation will likely confuse the listener or make you sound like you are trying to be intentionally eccentric.