daai6 zaap6 haai5大閘蟹大闸蟹
Jyutpingdaai6 zaap6 haai5
Yaledaaih jaahp háaih
Definition
Chinese mitten crab, also known as Shanghai hairy crab.
- Chinese mitten crab; Shanghai hairy crab
- figurativean investor whose funds are locked up in depreciated stocks
colloquialfoodmoney
How it's used
Seasonal eating is a major cultural event in Hong Kong, with these crabs typically appearing in autumn when they are at their peak. The name refers to the traditional method of using bamboo fences or sluices to trap them in river estuaries. Beyond the literal meaning, the term is frequently used in finance to describe investors who are trapped in a stock position that has lost value, leaving them unable to sell without a significant loss.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The hairy crabs this year are very plump and delicious.
Have you eaten hairy crabs yet?
Related words
Common phrases
to eat hairy crabs
Yangcheng Lake hairy crab
Common mistake
Do not confuse the literal crab with the financial slang, though the context usually makes the distinction clear. Remember that these are strictly seasonal, so talking about eating them in the middle of summer will sound very strange to locals.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
