sai3 gung1細工细工
Jyutpingsai3 gung1
Yalesai gūng
Definition
An errand boy or girl; an office assistant who does odd jobs.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone tasked with menial, low-level duties within a workplace or group. It carries a slightly derogatory or belittling tone, implying the person is treated as a subordinate whose time is less valuable than others. It is rarely used as a formal job title and is more often used to describe someone's perceived status or role in a situation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is always being used like an errand boy.
Related words
Common phrases
to work as an errand boy
to treat someone like an errand boy
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 細工 which refers to fine craftsmanship or delicate work. In Cantonese, it is strictly a noun for a person performing menial tasks.
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.
