mei6 gau3 baan1未夠班未够班
Jyutpingmei6 gau3 baan1
Yalemeih gau bāan
Definition
Not good enough or qualified to take up a job, receive an award, or challenge someone.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Originating from Cantonese opera slang where performers were ranked by their skill level, this term carries a slightly dismissive or critical tone. It is commonly used to judge someone's competence or status in a competitive context, such as sports, professional advancement, or social standing. Using it implies that the person lacks the necessary experience or talent to be considered an equal peer.
Examples
He wants to challenge the champion? He's not good enough yet.
Related words
Common phrases
completely unqualified
skill level is not good enough
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe inanimate objects or abstract concepts, as it specifically refers to the personal competence or status of a human being.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
