jyu6 jung6御用
Definition
Reserved for the exclusive use of the emperor, or metaphorically, serving a specific powerful person.
- for the exclusive use of the emperor
- figurativeserving or used by a specific powerful figure or authority over a long term
How it's used
Originally referring strictly to items reserved for the emperor, this term has evolved to describe anyone or anything that serves a specific powerful person or organization exclusively. It often carries a slightly sarcastic or critical tone when applied to people, suggesting a lack of independence or a sycophantic relationship. You will frequently hear it used in media to describe a celebrity's preferred stylist or a politician's favored journalist.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe something that is simply high-quality or expensive. It specifically implies an exclusive, almost subservient relationship between the object or person and a powerful master.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
