sau3 coi4秀才

Jyutpingsau3 coi4

Yalesau chòih

名詞

Definition

An imperial scholar who passed the entry-level civil service examinations in ancient China.

colloquialpeopleschool

How it's used

Historically referring to the lowest rank of the imperial examination system, the term is now frequently used in a slightly mocking or ironic way to describe someone who is bookish, pedantic, or overly focused on theory without practical experience. It carries a nuance of someone being disconnected from the realities of daily life because they spend all their time reading. In modern speech, it is rarely used to describe an actual academic or student unless the speaker intends to sound sarcastic.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢duk6讀syu1書duk6讀dou3到hou2好ci5似go3個sau3秀coi4才gam3咁。

He studies so much he is like a scholar.

nei5你ji5以wai4為zi6自gei2己hai6係sau3秀coi4才aa4呀？

Do you think you are some kind of scholar?

Common phrases

sau3秀coi4才jan4人cing4情

a scholar's gift (meaning a gift that costs nothing, like a poem or a painting)

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 秀氣, which describes someone having a refined or delicate appearance. Using 秀才 to compliment someone's looks will likely cause confusion or be interpreted as a joke about them being a nerd.