soeng3 gung1相公
Jyutpingsoeng3 gung1
Yaleseung gūng
Definition
An old form of address for a husband, young gentleman, or lord.
- archaichusband
- historicalyoung gentleman; lord
- archaicmale prostitute; catamite
datedpeoplefamily
How it's used
Historically used as a respectful term for a husband or a high ranking official, this term has largely fallen out of everyday use in modern Hong Kong. It now carries a heavy sense of irony or theatricality when used to describe a man who acts entitled or pampered. You will mostly encounter it in period dramas or when someone is teasing a man for being overly delicate or demanding.
Examples
He always acts as if he were some kind of lord.
In the past, people would call their husbands 'seung gung'.
Related words
Common phrases
haughty or lordly manner
Common mistake
Do not use this to address a husband in real life, as it will sound like you are roleplaying or mocking him. It is strictly a literary or archaic term in contemporary Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
