soeng1 gaa1商家
Jyutpingsoeng1 gaa1
Yalesēung gā
Definition
A merchant, business, shop, or commercial enterprise.
neutralworkpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to people or entities involved in trade and commerce, often carrying a slightly detached or critical nuance. It is frequently used in news or formal discussions about market practices, whereas everyday conversation might prefer terms like 老闆 or 生意人 depending on the context.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That business person is very cunning and always tricks people.
Do you think this business is trustworthy?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin usage, which can be more formal or literary. In Cantonese, using it to describe a small shop owner can sound slightly stiff or overly analytical compared to using the specific trade name or just calling them a boss.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
