zoi2 zi2崽子
Jyutpingzoi2 zi2
Yalejói jí
Definition
A young animal, or a child or young person; can also be used as a derogatory term or insult similar to bastard.
- whelp; young animal
- child; son; young person
- vulgarbastard; brat
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Carries a strong nuance of informality and can range from affectionate teasing to genuine hostility depending on the speaker's tone. When used towards children, it often implies a sense of mischief or naughtiness rather than literal illegitimacy. It is significantly more common in northern dialects and is used in Cantonese primarily as a loanword or in specific colloquial contexts.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Where have you been playing, you little brat?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in formal or professional settings as it is frequently perceived as derogatory or rude. It is not a standard way to refer to one's own children in polite conversation.
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.
