lou5 jan4 gaa1老人家
Jyutpinglou5 jan4 gaa1
Yalelóuh yàhn gā
Definition
An elderly person; the aged.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using this term is a polite and respectful way to refer to senior citizens, carrying a warmer tone than the more clinical or formal terms. It is frequently used to address someone else's parents or grandparents, or even strangers, to show deference. You will often hear it used as a term of address or a general descriptor for the older generation in the community.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
This elderly person really likes going to the park for a walk.
Do you have any elderly people at home to take care of?
Related words
Common phrases
take care of the elderly
respect the elderly
Common mistake
Avoid using it to refer to your own parents or grandparents directly when speaking to them, as it can sound overly distant or formal. Instead, use specific kinship terms like 阿爺, 阿嫲, or 爹哋媽咪 to maintain a closer, more natural family dynamic.
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.
