wai4 jan4 si1 biu2為人師表为人师表
Jyutpingwai4 jan4 si1 biu2
Yalewàih yàhn sī bíu
Definition
To set an example as a teacher, or to act as a role model for others.
writtenschoolpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy sense of moral responsibility and professional expectation. It is almost exclusively used to describe teachers or mentors who are expected to embody high ethical standards in their private and public lives. You will often hear it used in a critical tone when a teacher behaves in a way that contradicts their professional status.
Examples
As a teacher, he must act as a role model.
How can you justify your actions when you are supposed to be a role model for your students?
Related words
Common phrases
a model of excellence
Common mistake
Do not treat this as a simple job title or a neutral description of being a teacher. It is a value-laden term that implies a moral duty, so using it to describe a teacher who is merely doing their job without any particular moral weight can sound overly dramatic or sarcastic.
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.
