lou5 lou5姥姥

Jyutpinglou5 lou5

Yalelóuh lóuh

名詞

Definition

Maternal grandmother.

colloquialfamilypeople

How it's used

Although 姥姥 is understood in Hong Kong, it is primarily a Northern dialect term and is not the standard way to refer to a maternal grandmother in Cantonese. Most local speakers use 外婆 or 婆婆 instead. Using 姥姥 often sounds like you are quoting a Mandarin speaker or referencing a character from a period drama.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

ngo5我lou5姥lou5姥hou2好zung1鍾ji3意zing2整lo4蘿baak6蔔gou1糕bei2畀ngo5我sik6食。

My maternal grandmother loves making radish cake for me to eat.

nei5你lou5姥lou5姥gam1今nin4年gei2幾do1多seoi3歲aa4呀？

How old is your maternal grandmother this year?

Common phrases

can1親saang1生lou5姥lou5姥

biological maternal grandmother

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 姥姥 because they encounter it in Mandarin textbooks or Chinese media. In a natural Cantonese context, sticking to 婆婆 or 外婆 will prevent you from sounding like you are speaking a foreign dialect.