dau1 haak3兜客

Jyutpingdau1 haak3

Yaledāu haak

動詞

Definition

To solicit customers; to scout around for potential clients.

colloquialworkpeople

How it's used

This term carries a slightly informal or even negative connotation, often implying a persistent or pushy approach to finding business. It is frequently used to describe street-level solicitation, such as taxi drivers looking for passengers or staff from small shops trying to pull people in from the sidewalk. Unlike formal business development, it focuses on the physical act of roaming or standing in public spaces to intercept potential clients.

Examples

ni1呢tiu4條gaai1街hou2好do1多jan4人dau1兜haak3客，hou2好faan4煩aa4呀。

There are so many people scouting for customers on this street, it is so annoying.

nei5你ceot1出heoi3去dau1兜haak3客dau1兜zo2咗sing4成go3個haa6下zau3晝mei6未aa4呀？

Have you been out scouting for customers for the whole afternoon?

Related words

synonymlaai1 haak3拉客lāi hak

Common phrases

ceot1出gaai1街dau1兜haak3客

go out to scout for customers

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the noun 兜, which means a bowl or a scoop. While they share the same character, the verb usage here is specific to the act of soliciting business.