jiu4 seon3堯舜尧舜

Jyutpingjiu4 seon3
Yaleyìuh seun

Definition

Yao and Shun, two legendary rulers and ancestors of Chinese civilization.

neutralpeople

How it's used

Yao and Shun are legendary sage kings from ancient Chinese mythology, often invoked as the gold standard for benevolent and virtuous leadership. In modern Cantonese, referring to someone as a 堯舜 is a way of highlighting their perceived moral integrity or lack thereof, often used with a touch of irony or sarcasm when discussing politics or leadership. It is a literary reference that carries significant cultural weight, implying a level of selfless governance that is rarely seen in reality.

Examples

They want to be like Yao and Shun, but unfortunately nobody believes them.
Who wants to be a modern-day Yao and Shun?

Related words

Common phrases

the rule of Yao and Shun

Grammar color guide

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