zeon3 san1縉紳缙绅
Jyutpingzeon3 san1
Yalejeun sān
Definition
Gentry, government officials, or retired officials.
writtenpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to high ranking officials or the gentry class from historical contexts. It is rarely used in modern daily speech and carries a formal or literary tone. You will mostly encounter it in period dramas or historical texts rather than in conversation about contemporary government workers.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
He was a government official in the imperial court.
This retired official returned to his hometown after retirement.
Related words
Common phrases
gentry and officials
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe modern civil servants or politicians, as it sounds archaic and out of place. Use 公務員 or 官員 for current government roles instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
