ceng1 haai5青蟹
Jyutpingceng1 haai5
Yalechēng háaih
Definition
A green mud crab, or colloquially, a ten-dollar Hong Kong banknote.
- a green mud crab
- slanga ten-dollar Hong Kong banknote, which used to be green
colloquialfoodmoney
How it's used
Using this term for money is a nostalgic nod to the green ten dollar paper notes that were common in circulation decades ago. While the physical notes have largely been replaced by plastic ones or coins, the slang persists among older generations. Context is vital because it is equally likely to refer to the actual crustacean in a culinary setting.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Shall we go to the restaurant tonight to eat a mud crab?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not assume a speaker is talking about food if you are in a casual conversation about money or betting, as the slang meaning is still quite recognizable.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
