taai3 dau2泰斗

Jyutpingtaai3 dau2

Yaletaai dáu

名詞

Definition

A leading authority or luminary who is highly respected and adored by others.

neutralpeople

How it's used

Refers specifically to someone who has reached the absolute pinnacle of their profession or field, carrying a sense of deep respect and seniority. It is rarely used for young or up-and-coming figures, as it implies a lifetime of achievement that commands universal recognition. The term is formal in origin but is frequently used in news reports or interviews to describe legendary figures.

Measure word

wai6位waih

Examples

keoi5佢hai6係hoeng1香gong2港jing2影taan4壇ge3嘅taai3泰dau2斗，mou5冇jan4人m4唔sik1識。

He is a leading authority in the Hong Kong film industry; everyone knows him.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知bin1邊go3個hai6係ne1呢haang4行ge3嘅taai3泰dau2斗aa4呀？

Do you know who the leading authority in this field is?

Common phrases

hok6學seot6術taai3泰dau2斗

a leading authority in academia

ngok6樂taan4壇taai3泰dau2斗

a legendary figure in the music industry

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe someone who is merely skilled or popular. It is reserved for those who are considered masters or icons, so using it for a casual acquaintance or a junior colleague sounds sarcastic or overly dramatic.