lou5 gei2老幾老几
Jyutpinglou5 gei2
Yalelóuh géi
Definition
One's rank or seniority among siblings, or a disdainful term for someone's status or importance.
- order of seniority among siblings
- figurativeone's status or importance, usually in a rhetorical question to belittle someone
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Used almost exclusively in the rhetorical question 你以為自己係老幾呀 to belittle someone who is acting arrogant or overstepping their authority. It carries a strong sense of disdain, implying that the person has no status or importance to justify their behavior. It is rarely used in its literal sense of seniority outside of this specific aggressive context.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Who do you think you are
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase in a neutral or polite setting, as it is inherently confrontational and rude. It is not a way to ask about someone's actual rank or age.
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.
