ngoi6 taai3 gung1外太公
Jyutpingngoi6 taai3 gung1
Yalengoih taai gūng
Definition
One's mother's maternal or paternal grandfather.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the father of one's maternal grandfather or maternal grandmother. It is a formal kinship term that is rarely used in casual conversation, as most people simply refer to their great-grandparents by their specific titles or just as 太公. Using this term highlights the maternal lineage clearly, which is helpful in large extended families.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My maternal great-grandfather used to live in Guangzhou.
Related words
Common phrases
biological maternal great-grandfather
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 太公, which is a general term for any great-grandfather. Using 外太公 is very specific and can sound overly formal or distant in daily speech.
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.
