zi1 maa4 luk6 gun1芝麻綠官芝麻绿官
Jyutpingzi1 maa4 luk6 gun1
Yalejī màh luhk gūn
Definition
A very low-ranking, minor, or insignificant official.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This idiom uses the metaphor of sesame seeds to describe something trivial or insignificant. While it literally refers to a minor official, it is frequently applied to anyone holding a low-level position or having very little real power. It carries a slightly dismissive or self-deprecating tone depending on the context.
Examples
He is just a low-ranking official, he cannot help you.
Do you think you are a big shot? You are actually just a small fry.
Related words
Common phrases
a very minor official
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the phrase 芝麻綠豆, which refers to trivial matters or small things in general. When referring to a person, you must include the character 官 to specify the official or position.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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).
