caa1 mui6差妹
Jyutpingcaa1 mui6
Yalechā muih
Definition
A derogatory term for South Asian or Indian girls or young women.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This term is considered offensive and racially insensitive by many in Hong Kong. It stems from the historical use of 差人 to refer to police officers, specifically those from South Asia during the colonial era. Using it today is widely viewed as derogatory and should be avoided in polite or respectful conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That Indian girl seems to want to ask for directions.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly believe this is a neutral descriptor for South Asian people, but it carries a strong negative connotation that can cause offense. It is safer to use terms like 印度人 or 南亞裔人士 when referring to someone's background.
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.
