lung6 ngaa5弄瓦
Jyutpinglung6 ngaa5
Yaleluhng ngáh
Definition
To give birth to a girl, often used to congratulate new parents.
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How it's used
Derived from the Book of Songs, this classical idiom specifically refers to the birth of a daughter. It is formal and literary, typically appearing in written congratulatory messages or formal speeches rather than casual daily conversation. Using it in a text message or card shows a high level of respect and cultural awareness.
Examples
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, she must be very cute.
I heard your wife gave birth to a girl, when are you inviting us to the full-month banquet?
Related words
Common phrases
the joy of giving birth to a daughter
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in casual settings with close friends, as it sounds overly stiff and archaic. It is strictly reserved for congratulating parents and should never be used to describe the act of giving birth in a biological or medical context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
