马仔

馬仔
mǎzǎi
noun

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 henchman
  2. 2 underling
  3. 3 errand boy
  4. 4 low-ranking gang member

Examples

HSK 7-9
Tā bùguò shì lǎodà shǒuxià de yī gè mǎzǎi.
He's just one of the boss's henchmen.
HSK 7-9
Gōngsī lǐ tā zuò le hǎojǐ nián mǎzǎi cái shēngzhí.
He spent years as a gofer at the company before getting promoted.

Tips

register
Cantonese-origin slang (馬仔, ma5 zai2), spread to Mandarin via Hong Kong gangster films of the 80s and 90s. Strongly informal and slightly belittling - never use it about a colleague to their face.

Stroke Order

zǎi