jau4 soeng6 ji4 haa6由上而下
Jyutpingjau4 soeng6 ji4 haa6
Yaleyàuh seuhng yìh hah
Definition
Top-down; a hierarchical approach that proceeds step-by-step from the highest to the lowest level.
neutralwork
How it's used
This phrase is primarily used in formal or professional contexts to describe management styles, organizational structures, or analytical frameworks. It carries a sense of authority and centralized control, contrasting with bottom-up approaches. While it is a four-character idiom, it functions naturally as an adverbial modifier when paired with 咁.
Examples
The company decided to implement the new policy top-down.
Are you trying to solve this problem using a top-down approach?
Related words
Common phrases
top-down management
top-down decision making
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.
