san4 fu6神父
Jyutpingsan4 fu6
Yalesàhn fuh
Definition
Priest or father in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to clergy within the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox traditions. Unlike Protestant pastors, who are often addressed as 牧師, Catholic priests are strictly celibate. In casual conversation, you might hear people use the term 神父 as a direct title when addressing them.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
That priest is very kind and always helps people.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 牧師, which is the title for Protestant clergy. Using the wrong title can be seen as disrespectful or ignorant of the specific religious affiliation of the person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
