ngoi6 jung4外傭外佣
Jyutpingngoi6 jung4
Yalengoih yùhng
Definition
Foreign domestic helper; a domestic worker from another country.
colloquialpeoplehome
How it's used
Refers specifically to migrant domestic workers, usually from the Philippines or Indonesia, who live in their employer's home. While the term is standard in news and daily conversation, it is a functional label that focuses on their employment status rather than their personal identity. It is considered more neutral than older, sometimes derogatory, slang terms used to describe domestic workers.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
We hired a foreign domestic helper to help with chores at home.
Where is the foreign domestic helper in your home from?
Related words
Common phrases
to hire a foreign domestic helper
a common, friendly way to refer to a domestic helper
Common mistake
Avoid using the term as a direct address when speaking to a helper, as it can sound impersonal or cold. It is much more polite to address them by their name or a respectful title.
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.
