bei2 jan4 maai6 zyu1 zai2畀人賣豬仔畀人卖猪仔
Jyutpingbei2 jan4 maai6 zyu1 zai2
Yalebéi yàhn maaih jyū jái
Definition
To be trafficked overseas as a coolie or laborer, or to be betrayed.
- To be trafficked overseas as a coolie or laborer
- figurativeTo be betrayed by someone close to you
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Originally referring to the historical practice of kidnapping or tricking laborers into indentured servitude overseas, the phrase has evolved into a common metaphor for being deceived or exploited. It is frequently used in modern contexts to describe someone who has been tricked into a job that turns out to be a scam or a trap. The imagery of being sold like livestock emphasizes the total loss of agency and the predatory nature of the betrayal.
Examples
He thought he was going abroad to make money, but he ended up being trafficked.
Be careful, don't get scammed and sold off without even realizing it.
Related words
Common phrases
miserably trafficked or scammed
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being cheated in a small transaction. It implies a much more serious situation where the victim is lured into a dangerous or exploitative environment under false pretenses.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
