maan4姏
Jyutpingmaan4
Yalemàahn
Definition
An old woman.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to elderly women and carries a slightly blunt or informal tone. It is rarely used in polite or formal contexts where terms like 老人家 or 阿婆 are preferred. Using it to describe someone you do not know well can come across as disrespectful or rude.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to address an elderly woman directly, as it can be perceived as derogatory or ageist. It is strictly a third person reference.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
