ming4 gaa1名家
Jyutpingming4 gaa1
Yalemìhng gā
Definition
An expert, master, or famous person in a specific field.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone who has achieved high status or recognition within a traditional or artistic field, such as painting, calligraphy, or music. It carries a sense of prestige and authority that simple terms like 專家 do not possess. You will rarely hear it used for technical or scientific experts, where 專家 is preferred.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
Do you know which expert is best at calligraphy?
Related words
Common phrases
master of calligraphy and painting
contemporary master
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a professional in a modern, corporate, or technical setting, as it sounds overly formal or even archaic in those contexts.
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.
