lou5 tin1 je4老天爺老天爷
Jyutpinglou5 tin1 je4
Yalelóuh tīn yèh
Definition
God, Heaven, or the Lord of Heaven, as a personification of the sky in folk beliefs.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Refers to a personified deity or fate that controls human fortune and misfortune. It is often used in moments of extreme emotional distress or when someone feels helpless against circumstances beyond their control. Unlike formal religious terms, this carries a more folk or colloquial weight, reflecting a traditional view of a divine power that watches over the world.
Examples
God bless, I hope he recovers quickly.
Why does God have to treat me this way?
Related words
Common phrases
God bless
God is blind (to injustice)
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal or academic writing, as it is strictly a colloquial expression rooted in folk belief. It is not a term for a specific deity in organized religion, so it should not be used when referring to God in a theological or church context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
