daa2 siu2 jan2打小人

Jyutpingdaa2 siu2 jan2

Yaledá síu yán

動詞

Definition

To beat the petty person; a traditional ritual of cursing or venting anger by beating a paper effigy.

colloquialother

How it's used

This ritual is deeply tied to the specific location of the Canal Road Flyover in Causeway Bay, where professional practitioners set up stalls. It serves as a cultural outlet for venting frustration or seeking protection against workplace rivals rather than being viewed as a literal act of violence. While it involves the imagery of cursing, it is often approached with a sense of community tradition and superstition.

Examples

ting1聽jat6日hai6係ging1驚zik6蟄，hou2好do1多jan4人heoi3去ngo4鵝geng2頸kiu4橋dai2底daa2打siu2小jan2人aa4呀。

Tomorrow is the start of spring, many people go under the Canal Road Flyover to perform the ritual.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪hou2好nau1嬲aa4呀？sai2使m4唔sai2使wan2搵jan4人bong1幫nei5你daa2打siu2小jan2人aa4呀？

Are you really angry? Do you need someone to help you perform the ritual?

Common phrases

ngo4鵝geng2頸kiu4橋daa2打siu2小jan2人

performing the ritual at Canal Road Flyover

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with physical assault, as the term specifically refers to the ritualistic act involving paper cutouts. It is not used to describe actual fighting or bullying.