父母
fu6 mou5
The Cantonese phrase for parents is 父母 (fu6 mou5).
父母 refers to the father and mother of a person.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the characters for father (父) and mother (母).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
父母 is a formal term often used in writing or formal introductions. In casual spoken Cantonese, people frequently use more specific or colloquial terms depending on the social context.
How do you pronounce it?
fu6 mou5
Did you know?
- While 父母 is the standard written term, Cantonese speakers often use the colloquial term 爹哋 and 媽咪 (derived from English 'Daddy' and 'Mommy') in modern, urban households.
- The character for mother 母 is a pictograph that originally depicted a woman with breasts, emphasizing the nurturing role of the parent.
- In some traditional Cantonese households, children may refer to their parents using the names of their own children, such as calling their father 'the father of [Child's Name]'.
Examples in context
- 我尋日見咗你父母。I met your parents yesterday.This sentence shows how to use 父母 to say you met someone's parents.Tatoeba #4646356 by kaenif, translation #63320 by CK
- 見到屋企人真開心。I am really happy to see my family members (including parents).
- 我今晚陪屋企人食飯。I will have dinner with my family tonight (including parents).
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
