suk1 gung1叔公
Jyutpingsuk1 gung1
Yalesūk gūng
Definition
Grand-uncle; the younger brother of one's father or mother.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Kinship terms in Cantonese are highly specific and reflect the hierarchical nature of traditional family structures. While 叔公 specifically refers to the younger brother of a grandparent, it is often used as a respectful title for any elderly man of that generation, even if there is no blood relation. It carries a sense of warmth and community respect when used in a neighborhood context.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I will go visit my grand-uncle tomorrow.
Does your grand-uncle live over there?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 叔公 with 伯公. Remember that 伯公 refers to the older brother of a grandparent, while 叔公 is strictly for the younger brother.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
