seoi1胥
Jyutpingseoi1
Yalesēui
Definition
An ancient official or clerk; mutually; all.
- literaryancient minor official or clerk
- literarymutually; each other; together
- literaryall; completely
writtenworkother
How it's used
The character 胥 is almost exclusively encountered in the compound 胥吏, which refers to low-level government clerks or petty officials in historical contexts. It is a highly literary or formal term that rarely appears in everyday spoken Cantonese. Using it in casual conversation will sound archaic or overly academic.
Examples
This document needs to be handled by the clerk.
Related words
Common phrases
petty clerk or government official
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 需, which is the common character for 'need'. 胥 is not used as a verb for 'needing' something in modern Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
