男仔
naam⁴ zai²
男仔 (naam⁴ zai²) is the Cantonese word for boy.
The term refers to a male child. You can also use 仔仔 as a slightly more endearing or affectionate way to refer to a boy.
Meaning: male child (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
男仔 is composed of 男 (male) and 仔 (small/child/son).
Which one should you use?
男仔 is the common, colloquial term used in daily speech. In contrast, 男童 is a more formal term often used in written contexts or official descriptions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong and Macau, 阿仔 is commonly used to signify a younger boy or a boy in a close relationship, such as a family member or friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify 'the boy' or 'that boy', you would typically add a classifier like 個 before the noun, forming 個男仔.
How do you pronounce it?
naam⁴ zai²
Did you know?
- The character 男 (male) is composed of the radicals for 'field' and 'strength' or 'power', reflecting an ancient agricultural view of masculinity.
- The word 仔 is used in the term 細路仔 to mean 'child' in general, which can include girls in certain colloquial contexts.
- If you call a grown man 仔, you are likely being condescending or extremely casual, as you are literally calling him 'little boy' or 'son'.
Examples in context
- 個個男仔都有架單車。Each boy has a bike.This sentence shows how to use 男仔 when talking about each boy.Tatoeba #470274 by nickyeow, translation #37500 by Eldad
- 佢高過晒第二啲男仔。He is taller than any other boy.This sentence uses 男仔 to compare one boy to others.Tatoeba #562107 by nickyeow, translation #301050 by Eldad
- 佢係一個七歲嘅男仔。He is a seven-year-old boy.This sentence demonstrates how to describe a boy's age using 男仔.Tatoeba #1272691 by nickyeow, translation #1183708 by paula_guisard
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two neighbors are watching children play in a park.
- 子健 Tsz Kin嗰個男仔好叻呀。go2 go3 naam4 zai1 hou2 lek1 aa3.That boy is very clever.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting係呀，子健教佢玩。hai6 aa3, zi2 gin6 gaau3 keoi5 waan2.Yes, Zi Kin is teaching him how to play.
- 子健 Tsz Kin佢係咪好乖嘅男仔？keoi5 hai6 mai6 hou2 kwaai1 ge3 naam4 zai1?Is he a very well-behaved boy?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting係呀，佢好聽話。hai6 aa3, keoi5 hou2 teng1 faa3.Yes, he is very obedient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
