taai3 hau6太后
Jyutpingtaai3 hau6
Yaletaai hauh
Definition
Empress dowager; the mother of the reigning emperor or the empress consort of the previous emperor.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Historically, this title refers to the mother of the reigning emperor. In modern Hong Kong, it is sometimes used humorously or sarcastically to refer to a mother or grandmother who acts with absolute authority or demands special treatment at home, similar to how one might jokingly call someone a queen.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
I heard the empress dowager really likes eating this type of dim sum.
Is that empress dowager living inside this palace?
Related words
Common phrases
the reigning empress dowager
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 皇后, which refers to the reigning emperor's wife. Using the wrong term can be historically inaccurate and confusing in a narrative context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
