coi4 pun3 gun1裁判官
Jyutpingcoi4 pun3 gun1
Yalechòih pun gūn
Definition
A magistrate, specifically an officer with legal enforcement authority in a government or judicial system.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the judicial officer presiding over a Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong. While the term is formal, it is frequently heard in news reports and casual discussions regarding legal proceedings. It carries a sense of authority and is distinct from judges in higher courts, who are referred to as 法官.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
That magistrate sentenced him to a fine.
Do you need to report to the magistrate tomorrow?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 法官, which is a general term for a judge in higher courts like the District Court or High Court. Use 裁判官 only when referring to the specific level of the Magistrates' Court.
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
