suk1 suk1叔叔

Jyutpingsuk1 suk1

Yalesūk sūk

名詞Common

Definition

Uncle, specifically one's father's younger brother, or a respectful term used by children for an adult male.

uncle; father's younger brother
a respectful term used by children to address or refer to an adult male

colloquialpeoplefamily

How it's used

Beyond referring to a father's younger brother, this is the standard polite term children use to address any adult male stranger. It functions as a social lubricant that establishes a respectful distance while acknowledging the person's seniority. Adults rarely use it for themselves unless they are speaking to a child and referring to themselves in the third person.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

nei5你gin3見dou2到suk1叔suk1叔jiu3要giu3叫jan4人aa4呀，m4唔hou2好gam3咁mou5冇lai5禮maau6貌。

You need to greet the uncle when you see him, don't be so rude.

go2嗰wai6位suk1叔suk1叔hou2好ci5似wan2搵gan2緊nei5你，nei5你jing6認m4唔jing6認dak1得keoi5佢㗎？

That uncle seems to be looking for you, do you recognize him?

Common phrases

giu3叫suk1叔suk1叔

to greet an uncle

Common mistake

Do not use this to address a man who is clearly much older than your father, as it might sound slightly patronizing or inaccurate. For elderly men, use 伯伯 instead to show appropriate respect for their age.