dong1 caai1當差当差

Jyutpingdong1 caai1

Yaledōng chāai

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To work as a police officer.

colloquialworkpeople

How it's used

Carries a slightly old-fashioned or informal tone, often used when referring to the occupation in a casual or slightly detached way. It is not used as a formal title for the police force itself, but rather specifically to describe the act of serving as an officer. The phrase is historically rooted in the colonial era where the term was common among the general public.

Examples

keoi5佢lou5老dau6豆ji5以cin4前hai6係dong1當caai1差㗎。

His father used to be a policeman.

nei5你sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣soeng2想m4唔soeng2想dong1當caai1差aa4呀？

Did you want to be a policeman when you were little?

Common phrases

hou2好zai2仔m4唔dong1當caai1差

a decent person will not be a policeman

Common mistake

Avoid using this term in formal settings like job interviews or official reports, as it can sound dismissive or overly colloquial. Use 警察 instead for professional contexts.