po4婆
Jyutpingpo4
Yalepòh
Definition
Maternal grandmother; an elderly woman.
- maternal grandmother
- old woman; elderly lady
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the mother of one's mother. While often used as a standalone noun, it is frequently doubled as 婆婆 to sound more affectionate and natural in conversation. It also serves as a general term of address for elderly women, similar to how one might use 'granny' to be polite to a stranger.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Is your grandma in good health?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 婆 to refer to a paternal grandmother, who is called 嫲嫲. Mixing these up is a common error for learners who are used to a single word for grandmother in other languages.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
