Originally posted by geoduck at 14-8-2010 21:49
DA, Lao Sai is an alternative term for Lao Ban which also means BOSS.
I was just studying a Mandarin book which has an explanation for this.
Láo bǎn boss; owner of a business; also a term of address
As an expression common before 1949 and the founding of the PRC láo bǎn has had pejorative connotations. Today it has become acceptable and is sometimes used (half) jokingly to refer to the person in authority. It can be used as a sign of respect to someone (usually male) to exaggerate some minor or actual authority.