zi3 ze2智者
Jyutpingzi3 ze2
Yaleji jé
Definition
Sage; a wise person.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone with profound insight or life experience rather than just academic intelligence. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone, so it is rarely used in casual banter unless someone is being ironic or overly dramatic. In everyday speech, people are more likely to use descriptive phrases like 醒目或者好有計.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is truly a wise man; what he says makes a lot of sense.
Who do you think actually counts as a true sage?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is merely clever or quick-witted, as that would be better expressed as 醒目 or 叻. Using it for a smart child or a savvy business person sounds unnatural and overly grandiose.
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.
