maa1 ze2媽姐妈姐

Jyutpingmaa1 ze2

Yalemā jé

Definition

Majie; a traditional celibate Chinese female domestic helper, typically from Shunde.

colloquialpeoplehome

How it's used

Refers specifically to a domestic helper, often implying a long-term or live-in arrangement common in older generations. The term carries a nostalgic or slightly old-fashioned tone compared to the modern and more neutral term 工人. It is rarely used to describe modern foreign domestic helpers, who are almost exclusively referred to as 工人 or 姐姐.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

ji5以cin4前uk1屋kei2企ceng2請zo2咗go3個maa1媽ze2姐bong1幫sau2手。

We used to hire a domestic helper to help out at home.

nei5你sai3細go3個hai6係mai6咪maa1媽ze2姐cau3湊daai6大㗎？

Were you raised by a domestic helper when you were small?

Common phrases

ceng2請maa1媽ze2姐

to hire a domestic helper

maa1媽ze2姐cau3湊daai6大

raised by a domestic helper

Common mistake

Avoid using this term to refer to modern domestic workers from overseas, as it can sound dated or insensitive. Use 工人 or 姐姐 instead for current contexts.