coi4 zi2才子
Jyutpingcoi4 zi2
Yalechòih jí
Definition
An artistically or literarily talented man; a gifted male scholar.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used with a hint of irony or sarcasm in modern daily speech to describe someone who thinks highly of their own intellect or writing ability. While historically it referred to scholars with deep literary mastery, today it can be applied to anyone who displays a flair for the arts or creative expression. It carries a slightly old fashioned or romanticized nuance compared to simply calling someone smart.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
He is so good at his studies, he really is a man of talent for this generation.
You think you are a man of talent, but actually you are just arrogant.
Related words
Common phrases
a romantic and talented man
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 財子, which is a pun sometimes used to describe someone who is wealthy rather than talented. Using it to describe a woman is inappropriate as the term specifically denotes a male figure.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
