dung1 zyu2東主东主
Jyutpingdung1 zyu2
Yaledūng jyú
Definition
Owner or proprietor, usually of a shop.
writtenworkpeople
How it's used
Carries a formal and slightly detached tone, often appearing in written notices or legal documents rather than casual conversation. While it refers to the proprietor, it lacks the personal or familiar connection implied by calling someone 老細. Using it in a casual chat can make you sound like you are reading from a formal announcement or trying to be overly polite.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The owner of this shop is very young.
Related words
Common phrases
owner is celebrating a happy event
Common mistake
Avoid using this in daily conversation when referring to your own boss or a friendly shopkeeper, as it sounds stiff and distant. It is primarily reserved for formal business contexts or public signage.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



