siu2 gu1小姑
Jyutpingsiu2 gu1
Yalesíu gū
Definition
The younger sister of one's husband.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
While 小姑 is the formal term for a husband's younger sister, it is rarely used in direct address. Most people prefer to call her by her name or use the more affectionate term 姑仔 when talking about her to others. Using 小姑 can sound slightly distant or formal, similar to how one might use a title in a professional setting.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My sister-in-law is getting married next month.
Is your sister-in-law studying abroad?
Related words
Common phrases
youngest sister-in-law
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 小姑 with 姨仔, which refers to a wife's sister. Remember that 小姑 is strictly on the husband's side of the family.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Pronoun
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
