gun1 sik1官式
Jyutpinggun1 sik1
Yalegūn sīk
Definition
Official; formal.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Describes behavior, speech, or documents that feel overly formal, bureaucratic, or detached from reality. It carries a negative connotation of being impersonal or robotic, often used to criticize someone for hiding behind rules rather than being helpful.
Examples
He speaks in such an official tone, there is absolutely no human touch.
These official replies are as good as not reading them at all.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with formal language used in professional settings, as it specifically implies a lack of genuine connection or flexibility.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
