hou4 koeng4豪強豪强
Jyutpinghou4 koeng4
Yalehòuh kèuhng
Definition
Powerful and unscrupulous people, such as local strongmen, magnates, or elites.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a strong negative connotation of someone abusing their wealth or social status to bully others. It is often used in historical or rural contexts to describe figures who operate outside the law, rather than just wealthy business people. While it refers to power, it specifically implies a lack of restraint or morality in how that power is exercised.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That village used to be completely controlled by a few local strongmen.
Why are there still local strongmen acting so lawlessly around here?
Related words
Common phrases
local strongmen running rampant
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general terms for rich people like 富豪, but 豪強 specifically emphasizes the aggressive, domineering, or oppressive nature of the person's influence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
