太保

tàibǎo

noun #26,527

Meanings

1 Grand Protector (ancient Chinese official title)
2 juvenile delinquent (Taiwan slang)

Characters

grand / supreme / great

to protect / protector

Examples

HSK 6

那些太保在街上游荡，让居民感到不安。

Nàxiē tàibǎo zài jiē shàng yóudàng, ràng jūmín gǎndào bù'ān.

Those juvenile delinquents were loitering in the streets, making residents uneasy.

HSK 7-9

太保是周代三公之一，地位显赫。

Tàibǎo shì Zhōudài sāngōng zhīyī, dìwèi xiǎnhè.

The Grand Protector was one of the Three Excellencies of the Zhou dynasty, a position of great prestige.

Tips

usage

太保 has two very different meanings depending on context: the historical high court title (Grand Protector) versus the modern Taiwanese slang for a young thug or delinquent. The slang use is mostly Taiwan-specific.

Stroke Order

太 tài

保 bǎo