nou4孥
Jyutpingnou4
Yalenòuh
Definition
Children, or one's wife and children.
- literarychildren
- literarywife and children
datedfamilypeople
How it's used
Literary and archaic in nature, this term is rarely used in modern spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively encountered in the set phrase 一家大細, which is the standard way to refer to one's spouse and children collectively. Using it in isolation sounds highly formal or like a line from a period drama.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
the whole family
Common mistake
Do not use this word in casual conversation as it will sound unnatural or overly dramatic. Stick to the common phrase 一家大細 when talking about family members.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
