sau2 soeng3首相
Jyutpingsau2 soeng3
Yalesáu seung
Definition
Prime minister; the head of the executive branch of government, typically in a constitutional monarchy.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the head of government in parliamentary systems, most commonly associated with the United Kingdom or Japan. Unlike 總統 which implies a head of state in a republic, 首相 is almost exclusively used for constitutional monarchies. It carries a formal tone and is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing international news or politics.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
Has the British Prime Minister changed?
Related words
Common phrases
British Prime Minister
Japanese Prime Minister
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 總統, which is the title for a president. Using 首相 for a president is factually incorrect in political terms, even though both are high-ranking government leaders.
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.
