cyun4 siu1傳銷传销
Jyutpingcyun4 siu1
Yalechyùhn sīu
Definition
Direct selling, multi-level marketing, or pyramid schemes.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Often carries a negative connotation in local culture, as it is frequently associated with aggressive recruitment tactics or pyramid schemes. While technically referring to direct selling, the term is almost exclusively used to warn others or express disapproval of someone's career choice. It is common to hear it paired with verbs like 搞 or 做 to describe the activity.
Examples
It seems like he has been doing direct selling lately.
Make sure you don't get tricked into joining a pyramid scheme.
Related words
Common phrases
to engage in multi-level marketing
multi-level marketing company
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with legitimate retail or sales jobs, as using this term to describe a standard sales role can be highly offensive or imply that the person is involved in a scam.
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.
