lou5 sau2老手
Jyutpinglou5 sau2
Yalelóuh sáu
Definition
An old hand, veteran, or experienced person in a particular field.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
老手 carries a positive connotation of being skilled and reliable due to long-term practice. It is frequently used in professional or hobbyist contexts to distinguish someone who knows the ropes from a beginner, known as 新手. Unlike the English term "old hand," it does not necessarily imply the person is elderly, just that they have accumulated significant experience.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He has been in this industry for a long time, he is definitely a veteran.
Leave this task to the experienced one, don't you worry.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 老鬼, which is a slang term that can sometimes imply someone is stuck in their ways or is a long-time member of a group, whereas 老手 focuses specifically on technical proficiency and experience.
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.
