Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 家伙 | jiāhuo |
| 小伙子 | xiǎohuǒzi |
家伙 is a colloquial way to say 'man' or 'guy'. You can use it to refer to a person, but it is also common to see the phrase 这家伙 (zhè jiāhuo), which means 'this guy' or 'this fellow'. This phrase is often used when speaking about someone in a playful or slightly annoyed manner. If you are addressing a group of friends as 'guys' or 'everyone', you should use 大家 instead.
Which one should you use?
家伙 is a general term for a male or a person. In contrast, 小伙子 specifically refers to a young man or a lad.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
家伙 is an informal term. You should avoid using it in formal or professional settings when referring to a person.
How do you pronounce it?
jiāhuo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful when using 家伙, as it is not strictly limited to people. Depending on the context, it can also be used to refer to an inanimate object or an animal, such as 'that little thing' or 'that creature'.
Did you know?
- While 家伙 means 'guy' today, it originally referred to a set of tools or weapons. In older texts, you might see it describing a person's 'gear' rather than the person themselves.
- While English speakers use 'dude' to address friends directly, using 家伙 to call someone's name in Chinese can sound like you are insulting them or treating them like an object.
- While 小伙子 specifically means 'young man', using it for someone who is clearly middle-aged is a common way to flatter them by implying they still look youthful.
Examples in context
- 他是个厉害的家伙。Tā shì gè lìhai de jiāhuo.He is a formidable guy.
- 那家伙又迟到了。Nà jiāhuo yòu chídào le.That dude is late again.
Example conversation
Jiayi and Junjie are talking about a mutual friend's strange behavior.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那个家伙真的很奇怪。Nàge jiāhuo zhēn de hěn qíguài.That guy is really strange.
- 俊杰 Junjie我也觉得他很不正常。Wǒ yě juéde tā hěn bù zhèngcháng.I also think he is not normal.
- 佳怡 Jiayi俊杰，你最近见过他吗？Junjie, nǐ zuìjìn jiàn guo tā ma?Junjie, have you seen him lately?
- 俊杰 Junjie没呢，他好像失踪了。Méi ne, tā hǎoxiàng shīzōng le.No, it seems like he disappeared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dude” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
