zyun1 gaa3尊駕尊驾
Jyutpingzyun1 gaa3
Yalejyūn ga
Definition
Formal second-person pronoun 'you' used to address people of high status.
writtenpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Used primarily in formal correspondence or highly respectful face to face interactions to address someone of higher status or seniority. It carries a heavy, archaic weight and is rarely heard in casual daily chatter. Using it in a normal conversation can sound sarcastic or overly dramatic, as if one is performing a period drama role.
Examples
May I ask how I should address you?
Your presence here today truly brings great honor to my humble home.
Related words
Common phrases
your honorable presence
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard pronoun like 你. It is strictly honorific and should never be used with friends, peers, or subordinates, as it creates an awkward and unintended distance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
