caai1 jan4差人
Jyutpingcaai1 jan4
Yalechāai yàhn
Definition
Police officer; the police.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Refers specifically to individual officers rather than the institution of the police force as a whole. While widely understood and used in daily life, it carries a slightly informal or street-level tone compared to the more formal term 警察. Using it in front of an officer is generally acceptable, but it lacks the professional weight of the standard term.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
There are police checking ID cards up ahead.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in formal written reports or official statements, as it is strictly colloquial. It is not a derogatory term, but it is definitely not the professional vocabulary expected in legal or administrative contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
