Learn

Immediate Family

Parents and siblings

6words
15XP
6–10min

Let's learn how to talk about your immediate family. In Cantonese, there are specific terms for older and younger siblings!

baa4爸baa1爸

father / dad

baa4爸baa1爸hou2好mong4忙

Dad is very busy

maa4媽maa1媽

mother / mom

maa4媽maa1媽hou2好leng3靚

Mom is very pretty

go4哥go1哥

older brother

go4哥go1哥zung1鍾ji3意jam2飲caa4茶

Older brother likes drinking tea

ze4姐ze1姐

older sister

ze4姐ze1姐zyu2煮faan6飯hou2好hou2好sik6食

Older sister cooks really delicious food

Notice that Cantonese distinguishes between older and younger siblings. This reflects the importance of age hierarchy in Chinese culture!

dai6弟dai2弟

younger brother

dai6弟dai2弟zung6仲sai3細go3個

Younger brother is still little

mui6妹mui2妹

younger sister

mui6妹mui2妹gam1今nin4年ng5五seoi3歲

Younger sister is five years old this year