細佬 / 细佬
sai³ lou²
The Cantonese way to say "younger brother" is 細佬 / 细佬 (sai³ lou²).
細佬 / 细佬 is used to refer to a younger brother. However, it is also used colloquially to refer to a younger male person or a subordinate/underling.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 細 (small) and 佬 (guy/man/fellow).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
細佬 / 细佬 is an informal or colloquial way to refer to a younger brother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the variation 小弟 (siu2 dai6) is often heard to refer to a younger brother.
How do you pronounce it?
sai³ lou²
Did you know?
- In Hong Kong cinema, particularly in triad or gangster films, calling someone a 細佬 can be a way of asserting dominance rather than a friendly greeting. It signals that the person is a subordinate or a junior in a hierarchy.
- The word 小弟 (siu2 dai6), mentioned as an alternative, is also used as a self-deprecating way for a man to refer to himself when asking for a favour. He might say he is 'just a little brother' to show humility.
- The term 佬 in 細佬 is used in many Cantonese slang words for men, such as silly guy or old man, but it is rarely used in formal written Chinese.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “younger brother” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
