neoi5 haai4女孩
Jyutpingneoi5 haai4
Yalenéuih hàaih
Definition
A girl; a young female.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 女仔 instead of 女孩 in daily speech. The latter sounds like it belongs in a written essay or a formal storybook. Using 女仔 feels natural and friendly, whereas 女孩 can sound overly formal or even slightly pretentious in casual conversation.
Measure word
go3個goRelated words
Common mistake
Avoid using 女孩 in spoken Cantonese as it sounds like a direct translation from Mandarin or a literary text. Always opt for 女仔 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
