co5 baa3 wong4 ce1坐霸王車坐霸王车
Jyutpingco5 baa3 wong4 ce1
Yalechóh ba wòhng chē
Definition
To ride public transport without paying the fare; to fare-evade.
colloquialtransportpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of moral disapproval and is used to describe someone who intentionally avoids paying for transport. The term originates from the idea of acting like a '霸王' or a bully who takes things by force or without permission. It is frequently used in news reports or casual conversation to criticize fare evaders on buses or trains.
Examples
He always rides without paying, it's so rude.
Do you know that riding without paying is illegal?
Related words
Common phrases
deliberately ride without paying
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply forgetting to pay or having an expired ticket, as the term implies a deliberate act of theft or cheating. It is strictly used for transport and cannot be applied to skipping out on a restaurant bill or other types of payments.
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.
