baak6 leng5 jat1 zuk6白領一族白领一族
Jyutpingbaak6 leng5 jat1 zuk6
Yalebaahk léhng yāt juhk
Definition
White-collar workers; people who work in an office.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
The term carries a slightly collective or social-group nuance by adding 一族, which implies a distinct lifestyle or demographic rather than just a job description. It is often used in media or casual conversation to contrast office workers with manual laborers or service industry staff. While it sounds professional, it is common enough to be used in everyday social settings when discussing career paths.
Examples
He has been a white-collar worker for many years.
Do you want to join the white-collar workforce?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe specific job titles. It refers to the general social class of office workers, so saying someone is a 白領一族 accountant sounds redundant; it is better to just say they are a 白領.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
