caat3 haai4擦鞋
Jyutpingcaat3 haai4
Yalechaat hàaih
Definition
To shine shoes; also used figuratively to flatter or suck up to someone.
- to shine or polish shoes
- slangto flatter, toady, or kiss someone's ass
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal act of cleaning footwear, this term is widely used as a metaphor for sycophancy or brown-nosing. It implies a deliberate, often transparent attempt to gain favor from someone in a position of power. The imagery evokes the submissive posture of someone literally kneeling to polish another person's shoes.
Examples
He loves to suck up to the boss, it's really disgusting.
Why do you need to flatter him? He isn't even your supervisor.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean simply being polite or kind to someone. It specifically carries a negative connotation of insincerity and self-interest, suggesting that the person is sacrificing their dignity to get ahead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
