ceot1 zoeng3 jap6 soeng3出將入相出将入相
Definition
To have the ability to manage both military and civil services; to be capable as both a general and a statesman.
How it's used
Originating from classical Chinese literature, this idiom describes a person who is equally adept at leading armies and managing government administration. In modern Cantonese, it is rarely used in casual conversation and is mostly reserved for formal writing, historical discussions, or praising someone's exceptional versatility in leadership roles. It carries a sense of grand, old-fashioned prestige that distinguishes it from everyday terms for being multi-talented.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of someone entering a room or a building, but it is strictly a metaphorical idiom about career capability and should not be used to describe physical movement.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
