baak6 lou5 syu2白老鼠
Jyutpingbaak6 lou5 syu2
Yalebaahk lóuh syú
Definition
A white lab rat, or figuratively, a human test subject used in an experiment.
- white rat or mouse used in scientific or psychological experiments
- figurativea human test subject or guinea pig
colloquialanimalspeople
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of a laboratory animal, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person who is the first to try out a new product, system, or policy. It carries a sense of being a test subject who might face potential risks or side effects. It is common to hear people say someone is being used as a 白老鼠 when they are forced to test something unproven.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
This new medicine hasn't been tested yet, do you expect me to be the lab rat?
Scientists often use white rats to conduct various experiments.
Related words
Common phrases
to act as a test subject
laboratory white rat
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal animal. While it refers to a real rat, the metaphorical usage is much more common in daily life when someone is complaining about being an involuntary test subject.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
