duk6 syu1 jan4讀書人读书人
Definition
An educated, learned, or refined person; an intellectual or scholar.
How it's used
This term carries a slightly old fashioned or literary weight, often used to highlight someone's perceived level of education or moral standing. It is frequently employed in arguments to shame someone into acting more reasonably or politely, implying that an educated person should behave with a certain decorum. While it literally refers to a scholar, it is often used with a touch of irony or sarcasm when someone is acting contrary to their supposed intellectual status.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the simple act of studying, which is 讀書. Using 讀書人 to describe someone who is currently a student is incorrect; it specifically refers to someone who possesses a scholarly background or refined education.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
