aai3 sou3嗌數嗌数
Jyutpingaai3 sou3
Yaleaai sou
Definition
To call out numbers loudly, such as auctioneers reading out bids or restaurant staff reporting accounts.
colloquialdaily actionsfood
How it's used
Originally associated with the fast-paced environment of traditional tea houses where waiters would shout out items and prices to the kitchen or cashier. It carries a sense of urgency and high volume, often implying a chaotic or busy atmosphere. Nowadays, it is frequently used to describe anyone shouting out a sequence of numbers or items in a repetitive, rhythmic fashion.
Examples
The waiter is calling out the orders loudly, it is so noisy.
You help call out the numbers, I will be responsible for writing the order.
Related words
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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.
