gou1 gun1高官
Jyutpinggou1 gun1
Yalegōu gūn
Definition
A high-ranking, powerful government official.
neutralpeoplework
How it's used
This term is frequently used in news reports and political discussions to refer to senior government figures. It carries a slightly formal tone compared to simply calling someone a 官, which can sound more generic or even slightly derogatory depending on the context. While it specifically denotes high rank, it is often paired with accountability or policy issues in public discourse.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That high-ranking official went to the Legislative Council for a meeting today.
Do you know which high-ranking official is in charge of this matter?
Related words
Common phrases
accountability of high-ranking officials
corrupt high-ranking official
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe low-level civil servants or office workers, as it specifically implies significant power and authority. Using it for a regular clerk would sound sarcastic or confusing.
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.
