tou4 dai2徒弟
Jyutpingtou4 dai2
Yaletòuh dái
Definition
Apprentice or disciple.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone learning a trade or craft from a master, often implying a formal or semi-formal relationship. While it can be used for academic students, it is much more common in contexts involving manual skills, martial arts, or traditional professions like cooking or carpentry.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it for a standard school student, for which 學生 is the correct term. Using 徒弟 for a regular student sounds overly dramatic or implies a master-disciple bond that does not exist in a classroom setting.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
