zi1 bun2 gaa1資本家资本家
Jyutpingzi1 bun2 gaa1
Yalejī bún gā
Definition
Capitalist; a general term for merchants, landowners, and wealthy individuals who own capital.
neutralpeoplemoney
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation in everyday speech, often implying greed or the exploitation of labor. It is rarely used as a neutral descriptor for a business owner, as terms like 老闆 are preferred for that purpose. The word is frequently invoked in political or social commentary to contrast the wealthy elite with the working class.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He always claims to be a capitalist, but he's actually just an employee.
How would those capitalists ever care about the lives of us grassroots people?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe a regular shop owner or a manager, as it sounds overly ideological and accusatory. Use 老闆 instead for a neutral reference to an employer.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
