mou5 sing3母性
Jyutpingmou5 sing3
Yalemóuh sing
Definition
Maternal instinct; the natural instinct of women to protect others, especially the young or weak.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
Refers specifically to the protective and nurturing nature associated with motherhood, often triggered by small or vulnerable beings. It is frequently used in the phrase 母性大發 to describe a sudden surge of this feeling. While it describes a natural trait, it is sometimes applied humorously to someone showing uncharacteristic gentleness toward pets or children.
Examples
She is usually very fierce, who knew she actually has such a maternal instinct.
Seeing the kittens, her maternal instinct immediately kicked in.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe general kindness or love between adults, as it specifically implies a caregiver-to-dependent dynamic. It is not a synonym for general affection or friendliness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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.
