toi4 cyu5臺柱台柱
Jyutpingtoi4 cyu5
Yaletòih chyúh
Definition
The backbone or main pillar of an organization, troupe, or team.
- figurativethe main actors in a theatrical troupe
- figurativethe key members or backbone of an organization or team
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Originally referring to the main pillars supporting a traditional stage, this term has evolved to describe the most essential or talented person in a group. It carries a strong sense of reliability and indispensability. While it is often used for performers, it is equally common in corporate settings to describe a key employee whose departure would cause significant disruption.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is the backbone of the company, what will we do without him?
This actor is the star of the troupe, he leads every single show.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of a structural column in a building, which is usually referred to as 柱 or 支柱. Using 臺柱 for a physical building support sounds unnatural and confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
