ngoi6 gaa1外家
Jyutpingngoi6 gaa1
Yalengoih gā
Definition
A married woman's maiden family or parental home.
colloquialfamily
How it's used
Refers specifically to the family home of a married woman, emphasizing the connection between the wife and her parents after marriage. It is a warm, culturally significant term that implies maintaining close ties with one's own family despite having started a new household. It is commonly used in casual conversation when discussing family visits or holiday plans.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I have to go back to my parents' house for dinner tomorrow.
How long has it been since you visited your parents' home?
Related words
Common phrases
to visit one's maiden family
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 娘家, which is the formal term used in written Chinese or Mandarin. While 娘家 is understood, 外家 is the natural, everyday term used in Cantonese 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.
