si1 soeng2 gaa1思想家
Jyutpingsi1 soeng2 gaa1
Yalesī séung gā
Definition
Thinker; a person with original, deep, and serious thoughts.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Applying this term to someone often implies they possess a philosophical or intellectual depth that goes beyond mere intelligence. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation to describe someone who simply has an opinion, as it carries a weight of academic or societal significance. You will most frequently encounter it in contexts discussing history, literature, or social theory.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He has been a thinker since he was very young.
Related words
Common phrases
great thinker
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the act of thinking, which is 思考. Using 思想家 to describe someone who is currently thinking about a problem is incorrect, as it refers to a person's identity or status rather than an ongoing action.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.



