jau5 haan6 gung1 si1有限公司
Jyutpingjau5 haan6 gung1 si1
Yaleyáuh haahn gūng sī
Definition
Limited or mediocre in ability, level, or capacity.
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How it's used
Borrowing the legal term for a business entity, this expression humorously belittles one's own or someone else's proficiency in a skill. It carries a self-deprecating tone that is much more playful and indirect than simply saying 唔好 or 麻麻地. It is almost exclusively used to describe personal ability rather than the quality of physical objects.
Examples
You ask if I know how to make desserts? I'm only at a so-so level.
His Mandarin level is really just mediocre.
Related words
Common phrases
level is limited/mediocre
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe the quality of a product or a service, as it specifically targets human competence or knowledge. Using it for a restaurant or a movie will sound confusing rather than witty.
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.
