kau5 fu2舅父
Jyutpingkau5 fu2
Yalekáuh fú
Definition
Uncle; mother's brother.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the mother's brother, distinguishing him from the father's brother, who is called 伯父 or 叔叔. In many families, it is common to drop the second character and simply call him 舅, especially when addressing him directly. It carries a sense of closeness and respect, often implying he is a figure who provides support or treats the children of his siblings.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My uncle loves to treat me to meals.
Will you go to your uncle's house for Chinese New Year tomorrow?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 叔叔 or 伯父. Remember that 舅父 is strictly maternal, while paternal uncles have different titles based on whether they are older or younger than the father.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
