sip3 zou3 laa3攝灶罅摄灶罅
Jyutpingsip3 zou3 laa3
Yalesip jou la
Definition
An unmarried woman past the typical age of marriage; an old maid or spinster.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Literally referring to the narrow space between a stove and the wall where dust and debris accumulate, this term carries a derogatory and sexist undertone. It implies that a woman is unwanted or left behind like forgotten kitchen waste. Modern usage is increasingly viewed as offensive and outdated, reflecting traditional societal pressures on women to marry young.
Examples
keoi5佢dou1都saam1三sap6十gei2幾seoi3歲laa1喇，zung6仲mei6未gaa3嫁jan4人，sing4成jat6日bei2俾jan4人waa2話hai6係sip3攝zou3灶laa3罅。
She is already over thirty and unmarried, so people often call her a spinster.
nei5你m4唔hou2好sing4成jat6日waa6話jan4人sip3攝zou3灶laa3罅laa1啦，ji4而gaa1家hou2好do1多jan4人dou1都syun2選zaak6擇m4唔git3結fan1婚㗎。
Don't keep calling people spinsters, many people choose not to marry nowadays.
Related words
Common phrases
to be called a spinster
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in any professional or polite setting, as it is highly insulting and objectifying. It is not a neutral way to describe an unmarried woman and will likely cause significant offense.
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.
