gwai3 jan4貴人贵人
Jyutpinggwai3 jan4
Yalegwai yàhn
Definition
Noble or honorable person; a person of high social status, or a benefactor who helps one in times of need.
- noble, honorable, or high-status person
- benefactor; someone who helps or guides you
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning of a person of high social rank, this term is frequently used in a personal, metaphorical sense to describe someone who provides crucial help, guidance, or opportunities at a difficult time. It carries a strong sense of gratitude, implying that the person acted as a benefactor or mentor. It is common to hear people say they are waiting for a 貴人 to appear when they feel stuck in their career or life path.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is truly a noble person in my life.
Have you met someone noble to help you yet?
Related words
Common phrases
to encounter a benefactor
high officials and noble people
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a literal noble or aristocrat in a historical context, as it is almost exclusively used today to describe someone who has personally helped you succeed or overcome a challenge.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
