caat3 kaat1刷卡
Jyutpingcaat3 kaat1
Yalechaat kāat
Definition
To pay by credit card; to swipe a card.
colloquialmoneyshopping
How it's used
This term reflects the physical motion of sliding a magnetic stripe card through a reader, which was the standard method for years. Even though modern contactless payments like Apple Pay or chip readers do not involve a swiping motion, the term remains the standard way to refer to credit card payments. It is widely understood in all retail settings across Hong Kong.
Examples
Can I pay by credit card here?
I already paid by credit card just now.
Related words
Common phrases
to spend using a credit card
does not accept credit cards
Common mistake
Do not use this term for cash payments or bank transfers, as it specifically refers to credit card transactions. While some people might use it loosely for any card payment, it is technically inaccurate for EPS or debit cards, which are usually referred to as 碌卡 or 俾卡.
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.
