daai6 lou1 gaa1大撈家大捞家

Jyutpingdaai6 lou1 gaa1

Yaledaaih lōu gā

名詞

Definition

A professional crook; a mastermind or major player in illegal activities.

colloquialpeopleslang

How it's used

Carries a slightly ironic or mocking tone, often used to describe someone who acts like a big shot in the criminal underworld but might just be a small time swindler. It implies a sense of theatricality, suggesting the person is performing the role of a powerful boss or mastermind rather than being one. The term is heavily associated with older Hong Kong crime films and street slang.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢sing4成jat6日baan6扮daai6大lou1撈gaa1家，kei4其sat6實mou5冇cin2錢㗎。

He always pretends to be a big-time crook, but he actually has no money.

go2嗰go3個daai6大lou1撈gaa1家jau6又ngaak1呃jan4人cin2錢laa1喇。

That big-time crook is scamming people for money again.

Common phrases

baan6扮daai6大lou1撈gaa1家

to pose as a big-time crook

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 撈家, which can sometimes refer to a person who is very good at making money or navigating social circles, depending on the context. Using it to describe a legitimate businessman would be highly offensive or confusing.