<p>Hong Kong Cantonese uses the expression </p>

<pre><code>(一  ) 條       友/友仔
(jat1) tiu4    jau5/jau5zai2
one    long:MW friend
</code></pre>

<p>as a contemptuous way of referring to a person. While 個 can be used instead, the measure word 條 suggests something long, slippery and unpleasant.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-07T13:17:03.320Z
2013-07-07T13:17:03.320Z
jogloran
<h2>General answer to disrespectful measure words</h2>
<p>I can't recall any special disrespectful measure words in Chinese. Such disrespectful phrases are just expressed with simple measure words according to the noun. Like</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他是</p>
<ul>
<li><p>一个笨蛋 [<strong>offensive level: 1</strong>]</p>
</li>
<li><p>一个饭桶 [<strong>offensive level: 2</strong>]</p>
</li>
<li><p>一个贱人 [<strong>offensive level: 4</strong>]</p>
</li>
<li><p>一个傻逼 [<strong>offensive level: 5</strong>, with profanity word <code>屄/逼(cunt)</code>]</p>
</li>
<li><p>一个二逼 [<strong>offensive level: 5</strong>, with profanity word <code>屄/逼(cunt)</code>]</p>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>or</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p>一坨屎 [<strong>offensive level: 3</strong>]</p>
</li>
<li><p>一只(个)禽兽 [<strong>offensive level: 2</strong>]</p>
</li>
<li><p>一条走狗 [<strong>offensive level: 2</strong>]</p>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Note that the offensive level is my personal feeling: 1 is the lowest and 5 is the highest. You'd better not use <code>offensive level &gt;= 3</code> words when speaking to somebody face to face, or, you'd better be ready for a fight :)</p>
<h2>Metaphor of measure words</h2>
<p>A few Chinese people use measure words <code>只/坨</code> to show <strong>emphatic disrespect with metaphor</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他是一只小人。 (the measure word implies he is even not a human.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But it is rarely heard in daily life. Interestingly, the official editorial often use</p>
<blockquote>
<p>一 小撮 不明真相的群众</p>
<p>一 小撮 犯罪分子</p>
</blockquote>
<p>to describe some kind of people are <em><strong>really few</strong></em> with a derogatory sense. It's a metaphor too, implying that kind of people are just like <em><strong>a small pinch of dust</strong></em>.</p>
<h2>Common ways to emphasize your expression</h2>
<p>To emphasize the expression, you can omit the numeral</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他是个饭桶。 He is a scalawag.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Or you can also use <code>就是</code>, <code>真是</code></p>
<blockquote>
<p>他就是个饭桶。 He is exactly a scalawag.</p>
<p>他真是个饭桶。 He is really a scalawag.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And for shouting, omit the verb <code>是</code></p>
<blockquote>
<p>他个饭桶。</p>
<p>你个傻逼。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-07T07:42:03.983Z
Concerning the readers of this website are language learners, it's important to point out that 饭桶/笨蛋 are rude language while 傻逼/二逼 are profanity words. The latter ones are much more harsh than the former ones, although they're used quite extensively.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-07T08:22:03.267Z
@NS.X. Good advice.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-07T04:54:14.107Z
2013-07-07T10:13:10.633Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Stan
<p>I know certain measure words convey respect, for example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>一位客人</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is there something similar I could use to emphatically disrespect someone, as in:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他是一?饭桶</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Or is just using <code>个</code> disrespectful enough?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-07T08:55:21.010Z
[Measure words](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measure_word) convey a unit of measurement. That's about it.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-07T21:13:58.893Z
@QuestionOverflow: Yeah, but the words can still be tinted. 个 and 位 can measure a person, but one of those measuring sticks is more respectful.
rxmnnxfpvg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-08T00:30:23.280Z
"饭桶" is a disrespectful word, and to measure any type of "桶(Bucket)", one never use "位". If your focus is on "measure word", you could use another example like: why "他是一位作家" sounds more respectful than "他是一个作家".
pimgeek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-08T03:55:43.997Z
@ash, "他是一个正人君子" doesn't convey less respect than "他是一位正人君子". Also most people would say "他是一个好丈夫" instead of "他是一位好丈夫". Measure words are neutral words.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-08T04:31:08.240Z
I understand now. Although some measure words are typically paired with respectful nouns, the measure words themselves are only respectful by association and not because of inherent meaning.
rxmnnxfpvg
<measure-word>
Measure words for disrespect
# Measure words for disrespect

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-07)

I know certain measure words convey respect, for example:

> 一位客人

Is there something similar I could use to emphatically disrespect someone, as in:

> 他是一?饭桶

Or is just using `个` disrespectful enough?

**Tags:** measure-word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [Measure words](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measure_word) convey a unit of measurement. That's about it.  
> **username_0**: @QuestionOverflow: Yeah, but the words can still be tinted. 个 and 位 can measure a person, but one of those measuring sticks is more respectful.  
> **username_2**: "饭桶" is a disrespectful word, and to measure any type of "桶(Bucket)", one never use "位". If your focus is on "measure word", you could use another example like: why "他是一位作家" sounds more respectful than "他是一个作家".  
> **username_1**: @ash, "他是一个正人君子" doesn't convey less respect than "他是一位正人君子". Also most people would say "他是一个好丈夫" instead of "他是一位好丈夫". Measure words are neutral words.  
> **username_0**: I understand now. Although some measure words are typically paired with respectful nouns, the measure words themselves are only respectful by association and not because of inherent meaning.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-07-07. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

## General answer to disrespectful measure words

I can't recall any special disrespectful measure words in Chinese. Such disrespectful phrases are just expressed with simple measure words according to the noun. Like

> 他是
>
> * 一个笨蛋 [**offensive level: 1**]
> * 一个饭桶 [**offensive level: 2**]
> * 一个贱人 [**offensive level: 4**]
> * 一个傻逼 [**offensive level: 5**, with profanity word `屄/逼(cunt)`]
> * 一个二逼 [**offensive level: 5**, with profanity word `屄/逼(cunt)`]

or

> * 一坨屎 [**offensive level: 3**]
> * 一只(个)禽兽 [**offensive level: 2**]
> * 一条走狗 [**offensive level: 2**]

Note that the offensive level is my personal feeling: 1 is the lowest and 5 is the highest. You'd better not use `offensive level >= 3` words when speaking to somebody face to face, or, you'd better be ready for a fight :)

## Metaphor of measure words

A few Chinese people use measure words `只/坨` to show **emphatic disrespect with metaphor**.

> 他是一只小人。 (the measure word implies he is even not a human.)

But it is rarely heard in daily life. Interestingly, the official editorial often use

> 一 小撮 不明真相的群众
>
> 一 小撮 犯罪分子

to describe some kind of people are ***really few*** with a derogatory sense. It's a metaphor too, implying that kind of people are just like ***a small pinch of dust***.

## Common ways to emphasize your expression

To emphasize the expression, you can omit the numeral

> 他是个饭桶。 He is a scalawag.

Or you can also use `就是`, `真是`

> 他就是个饭桶。 He is exactly a scalawag.
>
> 他真是个饭桶。 He is really a scalawag.

And for shouting, omit the verb `是`

> 他个饭桶。
>
> 你个傻逼。

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Concerning the readers of this website are language learners, it's important to point out that 饭桶/笨蛋 are rude language while 傻逼/二逼 are profanity words. The latter ones are much more harsh than the former ones, although they're used quite extensively.  
> **username_4**: @NS.X. Good advice.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-07-07. Score: 2

Hong Kong Cantonese uses the expression

```
(一  ) 條       友/友仔
(jat1) tiu4    jau5/jau5zai2
one    long:MW friend

```

as a contemptuous way of referring to a person. While 個 can be used instead, the measure word 條 suggests something long, slippery and unpleasant.


---

