noeng4 noeng4娘娘
Jyutpingnoeng4 noeng4
Yalenèuhng nèuhng
Definition
An honorific title for female members of a royal family, as well as for female deities.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Modern usage has shifted significantly from its historical roots, often being used sarcastically to describe a woman who acts entitled, demanding, or expects others to serve her. It implies a sense of being pampered or high maintenance, similar to calling someone a princess in English. When used in a religious context, it remains a respectful title for female deities like 天后.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
I heard that the goddess really likes eating sweets.
Do you think you are a queen? You have such a bad temper.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to address a woman directly in a professional or formal setting, as it will almost certainly be interpreted as an insult or a mockery of her behavior.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
