daai6 ngau4大牛
Jyutpingdaai6 ngau4
Yaledaaih ngàuh
Definition
A five-hundred dollar Hong Kong banknote.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Originates from the iconic HSBC five-hundred dollar banknote which featured a water buffalo plowing a field. While modern banknotes no longer feature this design, the nickname remains deeply embedded in local slang for any five-hundred dollar bill. It is a casual term used primarily in spoken contexts when discussing cash or payments.
Measure word
zoeng1張jēungExamples
Can you lend me a five-hundred dollar note for now?
He has two five-hundred dollar notes in his wallet.
Related words
Common phrases
one five-hundred dollar note
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with other animal-themed currency slang like 大牛龜 for old bulky television sets or other colloquialisms involving animals. It specifically refers to the banknote value and nothing else.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
