hyun1 zi2圈子
Jyutpinghyun1 zi2
Yalehyūn jí
Definition
Social circle; a group of people with common interests, views, or other shared traits.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to social or professional groups where members share common interests or backgrounds. It often carries a slightly exclusive nuance, suggesting that those inside the circle share a bond that outsiders might find difficult to penetrate. When used in political contexts, it frequently implies a lack of transparency or a closed-off group of decision-makers.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He rarely participates in the activities of this circle.
How can you manage to fit into their circle?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the physical shape circle, which is usually referred to as 圓形. While 圈子 can describe a social group, it is not used to describe a literal geometric object or a circular path.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
