lyun6 san4 caak6 zi2亂臣賊子乱臣贼子
Jyutpinglyun6 san4 caak6 zi2
Yalelyuhn sàhn chaahk jí
Definition
Rebellious officials and traitors who are disloyal to their monarch or country.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom is heavily loaded with historical and dramatic weight, often appearing in period dramas or when describing someone who betrays a collective or organization. It functions as a strong moral condemnation rather than a neutral description of political dissent. Using it in a casual setting can sound overly theatrical or sarcastic.
Examples
They are basically just a bunch of rebellious traitors.
Who would dare to act as a traitorous rebel?
Related words
Common phrases
everyone has the right to punish them
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for criminals or bad people, but it specifically implies a betrayal of a superior or a legitimate authority figure.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
