lou5 je4老爺老爷
Jyutpinglou5 je4
Yalelóuh yèh
Definition
Husband's father, or a form of address for a male employer by a domestic servant.
- husband's father; father-in-law
- datedmaster; lord; form of address used by a domestic servant for a male employer
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Beyond the family context, domestic helpers often use this term to address their male employer as a sign of respect. It carries a traditional, slightly formal weight compared to simply calling someone by their name or title. When referring to one's own father-in-law, it is the standard term used in conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My father-in-law went for dim sum today.
Does your father-in-law really like watching the news?
Related words
Common phrases
parents-in-law
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 老嘢, which is a derogatory term for an old person. The tone difference is significant, as the latter is offensive and implies someone is a nuisance or decrepit.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
