sai3 gaa1世家
Jyutpingsai3 gaa1
Yalesai gā
Definition
An influential, famous, or prestigious family with a long-standing history in a particular field.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
This term carries a sense of prestige and long-standing tradition within a specific profession or craft. It is almost exclusively used to describe families where multiple generations have excelled in the same field, such as medicine, martial arts, or the arts. It implies a degree of social standing and inherited expertise rather than just wealth.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Their family is a scholarly one, everyone is very good at studying.
Do you know that they come from a family of performers?
Related words
Common phrases
family of medical professionals
scholarly family
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe any famous or rich family. It specifically requires a multi-generational legacy in a particular trade or discipline, so calling a family that just happens to be wealthy a 世家 is incorrect.
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.
