zoi6 je5在野
Jyutpingzoi6 je5
Yalejoih yéh
Definition
To be in the wild, or politically out of office.
- to be in the wild or outdoors
- technicalout of office; in the opposition party
neutralplacesother
How it's used
Primarily used in political contexts to describe parties that do not hold power, functioning as a formal antonym to 執政. When referring to nature, it carries a slightly literary or documentary tone rather than being the common way to say outdoors, for which 戶外 or 野外 are preferred.
Examples
They like camping in the wild.
This political party is still in opposition right now.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes imply being out of office due to political exile; in Hong Kong, it is a standard term for any opposition party regardless of their status.
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.
