si1 gung1師公师公
Jyutpingsi1 gung1
Yalesī gūng
Definition
The master or father of one's own master.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This term reflects the hierarchical nature of traditional apprenticeship in Cantonese culture. It is used not only for martial arts or craft lineages but also in professional settings where a mentor's mentor is involved. It carries a sense of seniority and respect that goes beyond a simple professional title.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is my master's master, you need to be polite to him.
Do you know where your master's master lives?
Related words
Common phrases
to pay respects to one's master's master
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 師公 in a religious context, where it can refer to a Taoist priest or a deity in certain folk traditions. Always clarify the context if you are referring to a family or professional lineage versus a religious figure.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
