姪仔
zat6 zai2
The Cantonese word for nephew is 姪仔 (zat6 zai2).
姪仔 is used to refer to a fraternal or sororal nephew.
Meaning: fraternal or sororal nephew (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term consists of the character for 'nephew' (姪) followed by the diminutive suffix 仔, which literally means 'son' or 'boy'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The addition of the suffix 仔 makes the term sound more natural and colloquial in spoken Cantonese compared to the formal written form 姪.
How do you pronounce it?
zat6 zai2
Did you know?
- While 姪仔 is the standard term, a Cantonese speaker might instead call a nephew 甥仔 if the nephew is the son of their sister rather than their brother.
- The word 仔 in 姪仔 is also found in names for small animals and nicknames, showing that Cantonese uses 'son' as a general marker for anything small and cute.
- In some Cantonese dialects, the term 姪仔 can be used playfully to refer to a young boy who is not a relative but is treated with the familiarity of a nephew.
Examples in context
- 我個姪仔好可愛。ngo5 go3 zat3 jai2 hou2 ho2 oi3.My nephew is very cute.
- 佢係我嘅姪仔。keoi5 hai6 ngo5 ge3 zat3 jai2.He is my nephew.
- 我個姪仔喺學校。ngo5 go3 zat3 jai2 hai2 hok6 haau6.My nephew is at school.
Example conversation
Mei Ling and Zi Jian are talking about family photos.
- 美玲 Mei Ling呢個係你個姪仔呀？ni1 go3 si6 nei5 go3 zai3 zai2 aa3Is this your nephew?
- 子健 Tsz Kin係，佢叫小明。hai6, keoi5 giu3 siu2 ming4Yes, his name is Siu Ming.
- 美玲 Mei Ling你個姪仔好似你。nei5 go3 zai3 zai2 hou2 ci5 nei5Your nephew looks just like you.
- 子健 Tsz Kin真係咩？多謝你。zan1 hai6 me1? do1 ze6 nei5Really? Thank you.
