po4 po4 maa1 maa1婆婆媽媽婆婆妈妈

Jyutpingpo4 po4 maa1 maa1

Yalepòh pòh mā mā

形容詞

Definition

Garrulous, fussy, or overly sentimental, like a stereotypical old woman; also used to describe someone who indecisively dawdles.

garrulous; fussy; overly careful or sentimental
indecisive; slow to act; dawdling

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom describes someone who is either excessively indecisive or unnecessarily long-winded and fussy. It carries a slightly impatient or critical tone, often used when someone is taking too long to make a simple decision or dragging out a conversation with trivial details. It is not used to describe actual elderly women, despite the literal components.

Examples

nei5你zou6做je5嘢m4唔hou2好gam3咁po4婆po4婆maa1媽maa1媽laa1啦。

Don't be so indecisive when you work.

keoi5佢gong2講je5嘢sing4成jat6日dou1都po4婆po4婆maa1媽maa1媽gam3咁。

He is always so long-winded when he speaks.

Common phrases

sing3性gaak3格po4婆po4婆maa1媽maa1媽

to have an indecisive personality

zou6做si6事po4婆po4婆maa1媽maa1媽

to be fussy and slow in doing things

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to describe someone who is literally acting like an old woman, but the term is strictly figurative and gender-neutral. Using it to describe an actual grandmother would be considered rude and confusing.