daa2 paai2打牌
Jyutpingdaa2 paai2
Yaledá páai
Definition
To play mahjong or playing cards.
- to play mahjong
- to play card games
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While this term broadly covers both mahjong and Western playing cards, context usually clarifies which one is intended. It is the standard way to refer to social card games, whereas specifically playing mahjong is often referred to as 打麻雀. Using this term implies a social, often recreational setting rather than a professional or formal one.
Examples
Are you going to play cards tonight?
They have been playing mahjong all night.
Related words
Common phrases
mahjong or card playing partners
playing cards or mahjong all night
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin usage which can sometimes specifically imply gambling. In Cantonese, it is a neutral term for the activity itself, though it is frequently associated with social gatherings where small stakes might be involved.
Grammar color guide
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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.
