tong4 mui2堂妹
Jyutpingtong4 mui2
Yaletòhng múi
Definition
Younger female patrilineal cousin; the daughter of one's father's brother who is younger than oneself.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Kinship terms in Cantonese are highly specific regarding the side of the family and relative age. Using 堂妹 specifically identifies a cousin from the father's side who is younger than the speaker, distinguishing her from a 表妹 who would be from the mother's side or the father's sister's side. This precision is culturally significant in maintaining clear family hierarchies.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My younger female cousin is coming to Hong Kong to visit next month.
Do you remember what your younger female cousin's name is?
Related words
Common phrases
close younger female paternal cousin
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 堂妹 with 表妹. Remember that 堂 refers exclusively to the paternal line, specifically the children of your father's brothers, while all other cousins are referred to as 表.
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.
