co5 gei2 lung4坐幾籠坐几笼
Jyutpingco5 gei2 lung4
Yalechóh géi lùhng
Definition
To spend several years in prison.
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
This expression uses the slang term 籠 to represent a year of imprisonment, likely derived from the imagery of being caged. It is strictly used in informal contexts to describe criminal sentencing and carries a cynical or detached tone. Avoid using this in any formal or legal setting, as it trivializes the severity of the situation.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of 籠, which is a cage or a bamboo steamer for dim sum. Using this phrase to talk about actual dim sum will cause significant confusion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
