zung2 lei5總理总理
Jyutpingzung2 lei5
Yalejúng léih
Definition
Premier, prime minister, or chancellor.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the head of government in parliamentary systems, distinct from a head of state like a president or monarch. It is used primarily in formal news reporting or political discussions rather than casual daily conversation. When referring to the head of the Chinese government, it is almost exclusively paired with 國務院.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The German Chancellor will go to meet him today.
Do you know who the new prime minister is?
Related words
Common phrases
Premier of the State Council
Common mistake
Avoid using this term for the head of a company, as that would be 總經理 or 行政總裁 instead. It is strictly a political title.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.



