dan3 gaam1扽監扽监
Jyutpingdan3 gaam1
Yaledan gāam
Definition
To do time in prison; to serve a jail sentence.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong colloquial and slightly derogatory or informal tone, often used to describe someone's criminal history or to warn others about the consequences of illegal actions. It specifically emphasizes the act of serving time rather than the legal process of being sentenced. It is rarely used in formal settings or legal contexts where terms like 坐牢 or 入獄 are preferred.
Examples
He spent a few months in jail before because of fighting.
If you keep acting recklessly like that, you will end up in jail sooner or later.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being arrested or detained by police, as it specifically refers to the period of incarceration after being sentenced.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
