太保

tàibǎo
noun #26,527

Meanings

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

Examples

Tàibǎo shì Zhōu dài sān gōng zhī yī, dìwèi xiǎnhè.
The Grand Protector was one of the Three Excellencies of the Zhou dynasty, a position of great prestige.
Nàxiē tàibǎo zài jiē shàng yóudàng, ràng jūmín gǎndào bù'ān.
Those juvenile delinquents were loitering in the streets, making residents uneasy.

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

tài
bǎo