lou5 jan4老人
Jyutpinglou5 jan4
Yalelóuh yàhn
Definition
An old person, the aged, or an elder.
neutralpeople
How it's used
While 老人 is a standard term for an elderly person, it can sometimes sound a bit clinical or distant in casual conversation. People often prefer using 長者 when speaking respectfully in formal settings, or simply calling someone 老人家 to sound more warm and polite. Using 老人 to address someone directly can come across as blunt or even rude depending on the tone.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
You should help out if you see an elderly person crossing the street.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 老人 to address an elderly person directly, as it lacks the warmth and respect conveyed by terms like 老人家 or 伯伯 and 婆婆.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
