saan1 gou1 wong4 dai3 jyun5山高皇帝遠山高皇帝远
Jyutpingsaan1 gou1 wong4 dai3 jyun5
Yalesāan gōu wòhng dai yúhn
Definition
To be far from the center of power and free from the interference of authority.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom describes a situation where local actors feel emboldened to act independently because central oversight is absent or ineffective. It is frequently used to explain corruption or lack of discipline in remote areas or within isolated departments. While it carries a sense of freedom, it often implies a negative or lawless lack of accountability.
Examples
It is far from the authorities here, who can possibly control you?
He thinks he is beyond the reach of authority and can do whatever he wants.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of geography, but it is almost always used metaphorically to describe organizational or political power dynamics. Avoid using it to describe simple physical distance without the implication of avoiding authority.
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.
