gung1 jau5工友
Jyutpinggung1 jau5
Yalegūng yáuh
Definition
A fellow worker, or a janitor who does manual and cleaning work.
- fellow worker; colleague among manual workers
- janitor; custodian; worker responsible for cleaning and miscellaneous chores
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Refers specifically to staff members who handle manual labor, such as cleaning, maintenance, or moving heavy items within an office or school setting. While it can technically mean a colleague, using it to refer to a professional peer in a corporate office can sound condescending or outdated. It is most commonly used to address or refer to the support staff who keep the physical environment running.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
This worker helped move a lot of things.
Remember to greet the worker when you see them.
Related words
Common phrases
school janitor
ask the worker for help
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to a professional colleague or a business partner, as it implies a blue collar or support role. Use 同事 instead for general coworkers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
