dou6 hang6道行
Jyutpingdou6 hang6
Yaledouh hangh
Definition
Skills acquired through religious practice; skill
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Originally referring to the spiritual attainment of monks or Taoist practitioners, this term has evolved to describe the depth of one's expertise or cunning in any field. It carries a nuance of hidden depth or mastery that is not immediately obvious to outsiders. People often use it to evaluate whether someone has the necessary experience to handle a tricky or sophisticated situation.
Examples
keoi5 hai2 le1 haang4 zou6 zo2 gam3 noi6 dou6 hang6 jat1 ding6 hou2 sam1
佢喺呢行做咗咁耐，道行一定好深。
He has been in this industry for so long, his experience must be very deep.
nei5 dou6 hang6 mei6 gau3 zung6 jiu3 zoi3 lin6 do1 gei2 nin4 sin1 dak1
你道行未夠，仲要再練多幾年先得。
Your skill level is not enough yet, you need to practice for a few more years.
Related words
Common phrases
dou6 hang6 sam1
道行深
high level of expertise
dou6 hang6 cin2
道行淺
low level of expertise
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple technical skills or basic knowledge. It specifically implies a level of seasoned wisdom or mastery that comes from long-term practice or experience, rather than just knowing how to perform a task.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- 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.
