taai3 gaam3太監太监
Jyutpingtaai3 gaam3
Yaletaai gaam
Definition
Eunuch; an imperial court official who has been castrated.
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How it's used
Historically, 太監 was a specific high-ranking title for officials in the Ming Dynasty, but it became the general term for all eunuchs during the Qing Dynasty. In modern Cantonese, it is used exclusively to refer to historical eunuchs in imperial China. It is never used to describe modern people, as doing so would be considered highly offensive or nonsensical.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The eunuchs in the palace used to have a miserable life.
Do you know who was the last eunuch?
Related words
Common phrases
the last eunuch
Common mistake
Avoid using 太監 to describe someone who is simply castrated or infertile in a modern medical or social context, as the term is strictly tied to the historical institution of the Chinese imperial court.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
