dai1 jan4 jat1 dang2低人一等
Jyutpingdai1 jan4 jat1 dang2
Yaledāi yàhn yāt dáng
Definition
Inferior to others; lower in status or social standing.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy emotional weight, often used to describe a deep-seated sense of social or personal inadequacy. It is frequently applied in discussions about class, status, or self-esteem. Unlike simple comparisons, it implies a structural or systemic feeling of being ranked beneath others.
Examples
He feels inferior to others and never dares to speak up.
Why do you have to feel inferior to others?
Related words
Common phrases
to feel inferior
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical height or literal ranking, as it is strictly reserved for social or psychological status.
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.
