Tai-Pan

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This page is about the Cantonese term. For other meanings of Tai-Pan, see Tai-Pan (disambiguation).

A tai-pan (大班) was an influential foreign businessman doing business in China or Hong Kong in the 19th century. The Chinese term is now used in a more general sense for business executives of any origin. The Chinese term literally means big class which is equivalent to the English term big shot.

The name was commonly used to refer to high-powered business executives and entrepreneurs in Hong Kong when it was under British control, referring to those in charge of major companies such as Jardine Matheson.

The irony is that the term tai-pan can refer to a 'pimp' or 'madam' of a bordello. No 'Chinese person' 中国人 would ever refer to themselves as 'taipan' 大班 and would of course be referred to as 老板 'boss' or 'business proprietor' or variations such as 板, or 龙头老大, or 上司 and would be insulted if referred to as 'tai-pan' 大班 which is so well regarded by Westerners 蛮. 我国恶作剧^{[citation needed]}