gun1 caai1官差
Jyutpinggun1 caai1
Yalegūn chāai
Definition
A government job, or a public servant.
colloquialwork
How it's used
Historically referring to government runners or police, this term has evolved into a slightly informal or old-fashioned way to describe any civil service role. It carries a nuance of stability and steady income, often implying a secure career path rather than just a regular job. Using this term instead of the more standard 公務員 adds a touch of local flavor and suggests a traditional perspective on job security.
Measure word
fan2份fánExamples
After he got a government job, he became much more settled.
Is it really that stable working a government job?
Related words
Common phrases
to take a civil service exam
to work in the civil service
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the modern term 警察, which specifically means police officer. While it historically referred to law enforcement, using it today to describe a police officer might sound archaic or slightly disrespectful depending on the context.
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.
