nin4 si6 ji5 gou1年事已高
Jyutpingnin4 si6 ji5 gou1
Yalenìhn sih yíh gōu
Definition
Advanced in years; elderly.
writtenpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that carries a respectful tone, often used when discussing the elderly in a polite or slightly euphemistic way. While it is perfectly acceptable in speech, it sounds more sophisticated than simply saying 老或者年紀大. It is frequently employed in news reports, formal speeches, or when showing deference to someone's seniority.
Examples
He is advanced in age and it is not convenient for him to travel around.
Related words
Common phrases
advanced in age and frail with many illnesses
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this idiom to describe themselves or their peers in a self-deprecating way, but it is almost exclusively reserved for describing others, particularly those who command respect. Using it to describe a young person as a joke can sound sarcastic or inappropriately heavy.
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.
