saang1 zai2生仔
Jyutpingsaang1 zai2
Yalesāang jái
Definition
To give birth to a child, or specifically to a baby boy.
- to give birth to a child; to have children
- to give birth to a son; to bear a boy
colloquialfamilydaily actions
How it's used
Despite the character 仔 which usually means boy, this phrase is the standard, gender-neutral way to talk about having children in general. It functions as a verb phrase and is used regardless of the actual sex of the baby. It is much more common in daily speech than the more formal terms like 分娩 or 生育.
Examples
They had a baby soon after they got married.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly interpret this as specifically giving birth to a male child because of the character 仔. While it can mean that in very specific contexts, it is almost always used as a general term for having a baby.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
