lou5 gun1老倌
Jyutpinglou5 gun1
Yalelóuh gūn
Definition
An actor or actress in Cantonese opera.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Originally referring specifically to male performers, the term has evolved to encompass professional Cantonese opera actors of any gender. It carries a sense of respect for the years of rigorous training and stage experience required to reach a high level of proficiency. You will often hear it used in the context of traditional arts appreciation or when discussing the history of the theatre scene in Hong Kong.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
This opera artiste has a really solid foundation in his performance.
Related words
Common phrases
a famous or leading Cantonese opera star
Common mistake
Do not use this term for modern pop singers or actors in television dramas, as it is strictly reserved for the traditional Cantonese opera stage. Using it for a contemporary celebrity would sound confusing or inappropriately archaic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
