特權
dak6 kyun4
Privilege in Cantonese is 特權 (dak6 kyun4).
The term refers to a particular benefit, advantage or favor.
Meaning: particular benefit, advantage, or favor (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This word is composed of 特, meaning 'special' and 權, meaning 'power' or 'right'.
How do you pronounce it?
dak6 kyun4
Did you know?
- The character 特 in 特權 is also the first character in the word for 'special' or 'unique', but it originally referred to a 'single male pig'. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'single' to 'special'.
- The second character 權 (kyun4) is also used to mean 'authority' or 'weight', which stems from its original meaning of a measuring scale or weight used to balance things.
- While 特權 refers to a privilege, the phrase 特權階級 describes the 'privileged class'. In Cantonese discourse, this term often carries a sharper, more critical political connotation than the English 'privileged class'.
Examples in context
- 他擁有大量財富和特權。He possesses significant wealth and privilege.
Example conversation
Meiling and Sijian are discussing company benefits.
- 美玲 Mei Ling經理可以隨時喺屋企工作。ging1 lei4 ho2 ji5 seoi4 si4 hai2 uk1 zei2 gung1 zok3.The manager can work from home anytime.
- 子健 Tsz Kin係啊，呢個係佢嘅特權。hai6 aa3, ni1 go3 hai6 keoi5 ge3 tak6 kyun4.Yes, that is his privilege.
- 美玲 Mei Ling我哋都想有同樣嘅待遇。ngo5 dei6 dou1 soeng2 jau5 tung4 jeng6 ge3 toi6 ngou6.We want the same treatment too.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我諗我哋要同老闆傾下。ngo5 lam3 ngo5 dei6 jiu3 tung4 lou5 baan2 king1 haa2.I think we should talk to the boss.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
