lou5 sai3老細老细
Jyutpinglou5 sai3
Yalelóuh sai
Definition
Boss; manager; employer; the person who hires or manages employees in a company or organization.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This term is the standard, everyday way to refer to one's employer or superior in a workplace. While it literally translates to old small, it carries no negative connotation and is used even when the boss is young. It is much more common in spoken Cantonese than the formal term 老闆.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My boss is treating us to lunch today.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to address your boss directly in a formal setting, as it can sound overly casual or cheeky. Use their title or name instead when speaking to them face to face.
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.
