aa3 daai6阿大
Jyutpingaa3 daai6
Yalea daaih
Definition
The boss of a gang or triad.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Refers specifically to a leader within a criminal organization or a street gang. While it can be used mockingly among friends to refer to someone who acts bossy, it carries a heavy connotation of underworld hierarchy. Using it in a professional or formal setting will sound highly inappropriate or even threatening.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Boss, where are we eating tonight?
Since he became the boss, he rarely comes out to hang around.
Related words
Common phrases
to follow a boss
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 大佬, which is a much more common and versatile term for a boss or a respected senior. Using 阿大 in a casual social context might sound like you are trying too hard to sound like a gangster.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
