coi4 jyun4裁員裁员
Jyutpingcoi4 jyun4
Yalechòih yùhn
Definition
To lay off employees; to reduce staff or headcount in an organization.
neutralworkmoney
How it's used
This term is used specifically in the context of corporate restructuring or economic downturns. It carries a formal and serious tone, often appearing in news reports or professional settings rather than casual conversation between friends. When speaking informally, people often use the phrase 炒人 to describe the act of firing or laying off staff.
Examples
Have you heard if their company is going to lay off staff?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 炒魷魚, which is a colloquial, slightly humorous way to say someone has been fired or quit their job. 裁員 is a structural decision made by management, whereas 炒魷魚 can refer to an individual being dismissed for personal reasons.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
