How to Say "Mrs" in Cantonese

太太

taai3 taai2

The English phrase 'Mrs' is translated into Cantonese as 太太 (taai3 taai2).

太太 is a title used before a woman's name. It is also frequently used as a standalone noun to refer to a married woman or a wife.

Meaning: title before a woman's name (noun)

Which one should you use?

Use 太太 (taai3 taai2) for married women, whereas 小姐 (siu2 ze2) is used for unmarried women or as a polite way to address a young woman.

taai3 taai2

The term 太太 can be used ironically in modern Cantonese slang to describe someone who acts in a pampered or overly sophisticated manner, regardless of their marital status.
The character 太 (taai3) originally meant 'great' or 'extreme'. The repetition of the character in 太太 reinforces the prestige and respect associated with the role of the matriarch in a household.
In some Cantonese dialects and older traditions, the term 太太 was reserved for the wives of high-ranking officials or nobility, making it a title of aristocracy rather than a general marital label.

陳太太今日好忙。
Can4 taai3 taai2 gam1 jat6 hou2 mong4.
Mrs. Chan is very busy today.
李太太嘅女兒好靚。
Lei5 taai3 taai2 ge3 neoi5 ji4 hou2 leng3.
Mrs. Lee's daughter is very beautiful.

Meiling and Zhiqiang are waiting for a teacher at school.

美玲 Mei Ling

志強，你見過張太太未？
zi3 koeng4, nei5 gin3 gwo3 zoeng1 taai3 taai3 mei6?
Zhiqiang, have you met Mrs. Cheung yet?
志強 Chi Keung

未見過，佢係邊個？
mei6 gin3 gwo3, keoi5 hai6 bin1 go3?
No, who is she?
美玲 Mei Ling

佢係我哋新嘅英文老師。
keoi5 hai6 ngo5 dei6 san1 ge3 jing1 man4 lou5 si1.
She is our new English teacher.
志強 Chi Keung

唔知張太太會唔會好嚴？
m4 zi1 zoeng1 taai3 taai3 wui5 m4 wui5 hou2 jim4?
I wonder if Mrs. Cheung will be strict.

Sources

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