naam4 haai4男孩
Jyutpingnaam4 haai4
Yalenàahm hàaih
Definition
Boy; a male child or adolescent.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 男仔 instead of 男孩 in daily conversation. Using 男孩 sounds like you are reading from a storybook or a formal news report. It carries a slightly more literary or distant tone that feels out of place in casual social interactions.
Measure word
go3個goRelated words
Common phrases
tomboy
Common mistake
Learners often use 男孩 because it is the direct translation found in dictionaries, but it sounds unnatural in spoken Cantonese. Always prefer 男仔 when referring to a boy in real life.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
