kai3 neoi5契女
Jyutpingkai3 neoi5
Yalekai néuih
Definition
Goddaughter; a girl or woman adopted as a nominal daughter through a ceremony.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
The relationship is established through a formal ceremony known as 上契, which often involves the exchange of gifts and a meal to solidify the bond. Unlike Western godparenting, which is primarily religious, this is a social and familial practice that creates a lifelong, quasi-kinship connection between the elder and the younger person. It is common for the goddaughter to address her godparents with the same titles as her biological parents.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
She dotes on this goddaughter and buys her gifts all the time.
Related words
Common phrases
to perform the ceremony of becoming a godchild
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a simple mentor or teacher relationship, as it implies a much deeper, quasi-familial commitment that is recognized by the wider family circle.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
