tung4 zi2童子
Jyutpingtung4 zi2
Yaletùhng jí
Definition
An underage boy.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to a young, innocent boy, often carrying a slightly formal or literary nuance compared to the everyday term 男仔. It frequently appears in religious or mythological contexts, such as referring to acolytes or divine children. Using it to describe a regular child in casual conversation can sound slightly archaic or overly descriptive.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That boy is very well-behaved.
Related words
Common phrases
Sudhana, a child deity often associated with wealth
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to a generic young male in modern daily life, as it sounds like you are describing a character from a folk tale or a temple statue. Use 男仔 instead for everyday situations.
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.
