dai6 saam1 gaan2第三繭第三茧
Jyutpingdai6 saam1 gaan2
Yaledaih sāam gáan
Definition
A third conviction or prison sentence.
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
This term is specific to Hong Kong prison slang and refers to the number of times someone has been incarcerated. It carries a heavy sense of habitual criminality or being a repeat offender. Using this term implies a degree of familiarity with the local criminal justice system or street culture.
Examples
He is already on his third conviction, there is really no saving him.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal meanings of cocoon or silk, as the character 繭 is used here as a phonetic loan or slang shorthand for a prison sentence. It is strictly colloquial and should never be used in formal or legal contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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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.
