taai3 zo6太座
Jyutpingtaai3 zo6
Yaletaai joh
Definition
Wife; a polite or formal term used to refer to someone else's wife.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Originally a respectful term for the wife of a high official, it is now used in a humorous or slightly self-deprecating way to refer to one's own wife. It carries a playful tone, often implying that the wife holds the real power in the household. Using it in a serious or formal context today might sound ironic or old-fashioned.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Do you need to accompany your wife for dinner tonight?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this term to refer to someone else's wife in a formal or respectful situation, as it can sound overly dramatic or mocking. It is best reserved for casual conversation among friends when talking about one's own spouse.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
