toi4 cyu5 zi2臺柱子台柱子
Jyutpingtoi4 cyu5 zi2
Yaletòih chyúh jí
Definition
The leading actor in a theater troupe, or a mainstay of an organization.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Originally referring to the lead performer in a Chinese opera troupe who carries the show, this term has expanded to describe any indispensable person in an organization or team. It carries a sense of heavy responsibility and reliance, suggesting that the person is the pillar holding the entire structure together. While it can be used in professional settings, it retains a slightly dramatic or metaphorical flair compared to more neutral terms like骨幹.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is the star of this troupe; they cannot do without him.
Who is actually the key person in your company?
Related words
Common phrases
star performer of a troupe
key person in a company
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal pillar of a building, which is 柱. Using it to describe a physical object is incorrect, as it specifically refers to people who are essential to the success of a group or performance.
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.
