aa3 po4 coi3 paau2阿婆賽跑阿婆赛跑
Jyutpingaa3 po4 coi3 paau2
Yalea pòh choi páau
Definition
To run for one's life; to escape quickly in any event.
colloquialdaily actionsslang
How it's used
This expression humorously depicts the image of an elderly woman running as fast as she can to emphasize the urgency of fleeing a situation. It is almost exclusively used in informal contexts to describe a sudden, hasty departure, often when avoiding trouble or authority. The phrase carries a lighthearted, slightly mocking tone that makes it unsuitable for serious or professional settings.
Examples
Seeing the police coming, one must run away immediately!
Related words
Common phrases
to run away immediately
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a race involving elderly people, but it is strictly an idiom for escaping quickly. It should never be used to describe actual athletic events or elderly individuals participating in sports.
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.
