suk1 gei3叔記叔记
Jyutpingsuk1 gei3
Yalesūk gei
Definition
An informal appellation used to address a middle-aged or elderly man whose name is unknown.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using 叔記 is a polite way to address a stranger who appears to be of your father's generation. It carries a slightly more respectful and friendly tone than just calling someone 先生. It is most commonly used in casual street settings like asking for directions or talking to a shopkeeper.
Examples
Excuse me sir, how do I get to the MTR station from here?
Related words
Common phrases
a man on the street you ask for directions
Common mistake
Do not use this to address someone who is clearly much older than your father, as 伯伯 is the more appropriate term for elderly men. Using 叔記 for a very old man might sound slightly dismissive or inaccurate.
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).
