zi6 gei2 gung1自己工
Jyutpingzi6 gei2 gung1
Yalejih géi gūng
Definition
One's own business, or working for oneself as one's own boss.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to self-employment or running a small business where the individual is the sole decision maker. It carries a sense of autonomy that contrasts with being an employee, often implying the person is their own boss. It is frequently used to describe the transition from a traditional corporate role to freelancing or entrepreneurship.
Examples
After quitting his job, he decided to start his own business.
Working for yourself is free, but the pressure is also very high.
Related words
Common phrases
to be self-employed
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply working hard for one's own benefit. It specifically describes the status of being self-employed, not just the act of putting in effort for personal gain.
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.
