ling6 zyun1令尊

Jyutpingling6 zyun1

Yalelihng jyūn

名詞

Definition

An honorific term for your father.

neutralpeoplefamily

How it's used

Using this term creates an immediate sense of formality and politeness, often used in business or when speaking to someone older to show respect. It is strictly reserved for addressing someone else's father and should never be used to refer to your own father, as that would sound bizarrely self-important or archaic.

Examples

m4唔zi1知ling6令zyun1尊zeoi3最gan6近san1身tai2體hou2好m4唔hou2好le1呢？

I wonder how your father has been feeling lately?

teng1聽gong2講ling6令zyun1尊hou2好zung1鍾ji3意jam2飲caa4茶㗎gaa4喎。

I heard that your father really enjoys yum cha.

Common phrases

ling6令zyun1尊jung1翁

your father (formal)

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to refer to their own father, but it is exclusively an honorific for someone else's parent. Using it for your own father is incorrect and sounds like a parody of a period drama.