soeng3 fu1 gaau3 zi2相夫教子

Jyutpingsoeng3 fu1 gaau3 zi2

Yaleseung fū gaau jí

語句

Definition

To assist one's husband and teach one's children, fulfilling the traditional role of a virtuous wife and mother.

neutralfamilypeople

How it's used

This idiom carries a traditional, somewhat conservative connotation regarding gender roles within a household. While it describes a specific lifestyle, it is often used in modern contexts to either praise someone's dedication to family or to critique the societal expectations placed on women. It is rarely used to describe a man's role, even if he is the primary caregiver.

Examples

keoi5佢kyut3決ding6定ci4辭zik1職faan1返uk1屋kei2企soeng3相fu1夫gaau3教zi2子。

She decided to quit her job to stay home and focus on her family.

nei5你ji5以wai4為soeng3相fu1夫gaau3教zi2子hai6係jat1一gin2件hou2好jung4容ji6易ge3嘅si6事me1咩？

Do you think being a stay-at-home mother is an easy task?

Common phrases

zyun1專sam1心soeng3相fu1夫gaau3教zi2子

to focus entirely on one's family and children

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it functions as a set idiom describing a specific lifestyle choice. It is not used to describe the act of helping a husband with a specific task, like fixing a shelf or doing taxes.