daai6 haa1 sai3大蝦細大虾细
Jyutpingdaai6 haa1 sai3
Yaledaaih hā sai
Definition
To bully; the big and strong bullying the small and weak.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This expression literally translates to 'big shrimp small', where the big shrimp dominates the smaller ones. It is used exclusively to describe the act of picking on someone perceived as weaker, younger, or lower in status. It carries a strong moral disapproval, often used by parents or teachers to correct behavior.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
don't bully the weak
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal shrimp. It is a set phrase and cannot be modified or broken up by other particles or objects.
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.
