kaau3 saan1靠山
Jyutpingkaau3 saan1
Yalekaau sāan
Definition
Backer, patron, or source of support; someone or something that provides reliable assistance.
colloquialpeoplemoney
How it's used
Often implies a sense of unfair advantage or nepotism, suggesting the person is not relying on their own merit. It carries a slightly cynical tone, as it is frequently used to explain why someone gets away with things or succeeds without putting in the expected effort.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He has a big financial group backing him, so of course he dares to take the risk.
Do you think you're invincible just because you found a backer?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of a mountain behind a house in Feng Shui, which is also called 靠山. In casual conversation, it almost exclusively refers to a person or entity providing power or protection.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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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).
