lou5 gung1老公
Jyutpinglou5 gung1
Yalelóuh gūng
Definition
Husband, or an intimate term of address for a boyfriend.
- husband; male spouse
- slangan intimate term of address for one's boyfriend
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to a married partner, though it is increasingly common for women to use it for long term boyfriends to signal commitment. It carries a warm, domestic tone compared to the more formal 丈夫. When speaking to someone else about their partner, it is polite and standard to use this term.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Does your husband have to go to work today?
Related words
Common phrases
hubby (very intimate/affectionate)
Common mistake
Do not use 老公 when referring to someone else's husband in a formal setting or when you are not close to the person, as it can sound overly familiar; use 先生 instead.
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.
