sai3 zat6世姪世侄

Jyutpingsai3 zat6

Yalesai jaht

Definition

The son of a family friend, especially one of a younger generation.

colloquialpeoplefamily

How it's used

Used primarily by the older generation to show affection and maintain social hierarchy between families. It functions as a polite, semi-formal way to address the child of a close friend, effectively treating them as a member of one's own extended family. The term implies a long-standing relationship between the parents that transcends simple acquaintance.

Examples

sai3世zat6姪，nei5你gei2幾si4時faan1返lai4嚟hoeng1香gong2港aa4呀？

My dear nephew, when are you coming back to Hong Kong?

keoi5佢hai6係ngo5我lou5老jau5友go3個zai2仔，zik1即hai6係ngo5我sai3世zat6姪。

He is my old friend's son, so he is my family friend's nephew.

Common phrases

gwaai1乖sai3世zat6姪

good nephew (affectionate)

Common mistake

Avoid using this term with people you do not know well, as it can sound overly intimate or patronizing if the parents are not actually close friends. It is strictly a term of address from an elder to a younger person, never the other way around.