syu1 sang1書生书生
Jyutpingsyu1 sang1
Yalesyū sāng
Definition
An appellation used to address students, intellectuals, or scholars in ancient times.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Modern usage often carries a slightly ironic or teasing tone, implying someone is physically weak or lacks practical experience. It is frequently used to contrast a person's intellectual appearance with their lack of physical strength or manual skill. While historically a neutral term for a student, it now leans towards describing a specific archetype of a frail, bookish person.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He looks like a scholar, very gentle and refined.
Do you think you're some kind of scholar? Hurry up and go help move things.
Related words
Common phrases
a pale, inexperienced young scholar
a poor, struggling scholar
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to a modern university student, as it sounds archaic and out of place. Use 大學生 instead for contemporary students.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
