ban2 hok6 gim1 jau1品學兼優品学兼优
Definition
A person, usually a student, who excels in both academics and moral conduct.
How it's used
This idiom is almost exclusively used to describe students in a formal or semi-formal context, such as school reports, teacher comments, or parental praise. It carries a slightly old-fashioned or academic weight, so it is rarely used in casual banter between friends unless being sarcastic or ironic. It functions as a compound adjective to describe a person's overall quality rather than a specific action.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this to describe adults in professional settings, but it sounds unnatural because it specifically highlights academic performance and student-like moral conduct. For adults, other phrases describing professional competence or integrity are more appropriate.
Grammar color guide
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.
