zing3 paai4正牌

Jyutpingzing3 paai4

Yalejing pàaih

區別詞

Definition

Authentic, genuine, or official, as opposed to counterfeit or illegal.

colloquialshoppingpeople

How it's used

Focuses on legitimacy and official status rather than just quality. It is frequently used to distinguish between a genuine, authorized version of something and a knockoff or an impostor. When applied to people, it implies they have the proper credentials or official standing to perform a role.

Examples

ni1呢go3個sin1先hai6係zing3正paai4牌fo3貨，ceot1出min6面go2嗰di1啲cyun4全bou6部dou1都hai6係gaa3假㗎。

This is the authentic one; all those outside are fake.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪zing3正paai4牌ji1醫sang1生lai2嚟㗎？gaa2點dim2解gaai2開hoi1呢ni1啲di1藥joek6畀bei2我？

Are you a licensed doctor? Why did you prescribe this medicine to me?

Common phrases

zing3正paai4牌fo3貨

authentic goods

zing3正paai4牌ji1醫sang1生

licensed doctor

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 真正, which simply means real or true in a general sense. 正牌 specifically carries the nuance of being authorized, official, or the original brand, whereas 真正 is more about the nature or essence of something.