<p>Apparently simply 他说的算 or nevertheless 他作主呗。</p>

<p><a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/97813888.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/97813888.html</a>
<a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1887136042799627988.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1887136042799627988.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-12T02:31:25.723Z
2018-06-12T02:31:25.723Z
Vitaly Osipov
<p>I hear 作主 enough to not think of it as particularly formal, no more than 老板; BUT it definitely isn't the most colloquial form. </p>

<p>[他]说的算话 is one option you could consider, and close in form to the Cantonese 話事.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-11T19:32:36.383Z
How does `他说的算话` compare to `他说了算`? The latter feels a bit smoother, but are you saying it's not a common phrasing? Thanks for your help!
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-12T04:07:29.727Z
@Crashalot 他说了算 literally means "What he says, counts" and is a common phrasing in Mandarin.  I understand it to mean "His words count", and sometimes with a subtle hint of "... while mine doesn't".  Funny enough, a quick search suggests [a movie](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1294409/) of similar name.
Frenzy Li
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-12T07:25:43.973Z
@FrenzyLi thanks! so which is the preferred phrasing: 他说了算 or 他说的算话?
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-12T08:04:49.067Z
@Crashalot 他说了算 = His words matters/counts (probably with a subtle hint that mine doesn't). I would also use 他说的算.  I have never encountered 他说的算话 before this post---I have no trouble understanding it though I subjectively feel that it is contrived. Another example: 他说了才算 Only his words matter/count.
Frenzy Li
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-11T11:11:11.763Z
2018-06-11T11:11:11.763Z
Michaelyus
<p>Haha, in China, at home, the woman is the absolute ruler, so try 老婆!</p>

<p>老板 is very commonly heard for boss. </p>

<p>现在我是老板！</p>

<p>To be polite, you may address someone as 师傅, which is a kind of boss</p>

<p>Every 单位 will have a 领导, leader, boss</p>

<p>'boss people around' 对某人呼来唤去</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-10T22:31:41.807Z
2018-06-10T22:31:41.807Z
Pedroski
<p>Personally, I don't hear 作主 very often and probably only in movies. 
老板 is common and is what the English word "boss" means, so basically it's an employer. 
经理 is a manager.
To answer your actual question, 作主 does describe somebody who makes decisions, but not really in a business or work setting. An example phrase could be “一切由自己作主” (yi2 qie4 you2 zi4 ji3 zuo4 zhu3). This means to be your own boss, or being independent.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-11T02:11:50.307Z
2018-06-11T02:11:50.307Z
explicitEllipticGroupAction
<p>In Cantonese, people often say 話事 to indicate someone is "the boss" (e.g., 你話事) or can decide some matter (e.g., what to eat, what to watch).</p>

<p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/40399/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This page</a> says the Mandarin equivalent is 作主, but 作主 feels a bit formal. Is 作主 really the right equivalent?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-10T21:37:27.230Z
在香港人说广东话“我话事”是什么意思？https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1494056639767460219.html 最佳答案：一般来说，我话事只不过是指“由我作主”，例如去哪里吃饭，点什么菜，看什么电影等等，由我作主就是“我话事”，当然也可以说“我说了算”，例如公司老板，自然是他说了算，那就是公司是“我话事”. 还要就是“话事人”就是“头头、作主的人”
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-11T19:35:05.163Z
@user6065 could you post this as an answer so you can get credit? thanks!
Crashalot
<mandarin><cantonese>
Mandarin equivalent to 話事?
# Mandarin equivalent to 話事?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-10)

In Cantonese, people often say 話事 to indicate someone is "the boss" (e.g., 你話事) or can decide some matter (e.g., what to eat, what to watch).

[This page](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/40399/) says the Mandarin equivalent is 作主, but 作主 feels a bit formal. Is 作主 really the right equivalent?

**Tags:** mandarin, cantonese
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 在香港人说广东话“我话事”是什么意思？https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1494056639767460219.html 最佳答案：一般来说，我话事只不过是指“由我作主”，例如去哪里吃饭，点什么菜，看什么电影等等，由我作主就是“我话事”，当然也可以说“我说了算”，例如公司老板，自然是他说了算，那就是公司是“我话事”. 还要就是“话事人”就是“头头、作主的人”  
> **username_0**: @user6065 could you post this as an answer so you can get credit? thanks!  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-12. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Apparently simply 他说的算 or nevertheless 他作主呗。

<https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/97813888.html>
<https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1887136042799627988.html>


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-06-11. Score: 2

I hear 作主 enough to not think of it as particularly formal, no more than 老板; BUT it definitely isn't the most colloquial form.

[他]说的算话 is one option you could consider, and close in form to the Cantonese 話事.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: How does `他说的算话` compare to `他说了算`? The latter feels a bit smoother, but are you saying it's not a common phrasing? Thanks for your help!  
> **username_4**: @Crashalot 他说了算 literally means "What he says, counts" and is a common phrasing in Mandarin.  I understand it to mean "His words count", and sometimes with a subtle hint of "... while mine doesn't".  Funny enough, a quick search suggests [a movie](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1294409/) of similar name.  
> **username_0**: @FrenzyLi thanks! so which is the preferred phrasing: 他说了算 or 他说的算话?  
> **username_4**: @Crashalot 他说了算 = His words matters/counts (probably with a subtle hint that mine doesn't). I would also use 他说的算.  I have never encountered 他说的算话 before this post---I have no trouble understanding it though I subjectively feel that it is contrived. Another example: 他说了才算 Only his words matter/count.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-06-10. Score: 2

Haha, in China, at home, the woman is the absolute ruler, so try 老婆!

老板 is very commonly heard for boss.

现在我是老板！

To be polite, you may address someone as 师傅, which is a kind of boss

Every 单位 will have a 领导, leader, boss

'boss people around' 对某人呼来唤去


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2018-06-11. Score: 2

Personally, I don't hear 作主 very often and probably only in movies.
老板 is common and is what the English word "boss" means, so basically it's an employer.
经理 is a manager.
To answer your actual question, 作主 does describe somebody who makes decisions, but not really in a business or work setting. An example phrase could be “一切由自己作主” (yi2 qie4 you2 zi4 ji3 zuo4 zhu3). This means to be your own boss, or being independent.


---

