zing3 jan4 gwan1 zi2正人君子
Jyutpingzing3 jan4 gwan1 zi2
Yalejing yàhn gwān jí
Definition
A decent man of good character; a gentleman.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used sarcastically to describe someone who acts morally superior or hypocritically in public. While it literally refers to a person of high integrity, it is frequently employed to cast doubt on someone's true intentions. It carries a slightly formal or literary weight that makes it sound ironic when applied to people in everyday social contexts.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He pretends to be a decent man, but he is actually very sly.
Related words
Common phrases
to act like a decent man
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a woman, as the term specifically implies a male subject. It is also rarely used as a sincere compliment in casual conversation because of its strong association with moral posturing.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
