nau2 gai3 si1 je4扭計師爺扭计师爷
Definition
A clever advisor, cunning lawyer, or person full of ideas who devises various schemes to help others.
How it's used
Originally referring to legal clerks who used loopholes to win cases, this term has evolved to describe anyone who is exceptionally crafty or full of clever, often devious, schemes. It carries a slightly cynical tone, suggesting that the person is more interested in finding technicalities or shortcuts than following the spirit of the rules. While it contains the word 師爺, it is rarely used to describe actual legal professionals in a respectful way.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this term to address a lawyer directly, as it implies they are manipulative or sneaky rather than professional. It is a descriptive label for someone's behavior rather than a formal job title.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
