fuk1 sau6 gou1福壽膏福寿膏

Jyutpingfuk1 sau6 gou1

Yalefūk sauh gōu

名詞

Definition

Opium.

colloquialother

How it's used

This term is a euphemism that literally translates to "happiness and longevity paste," which is highly ironic given the destructive nature of the drug. It reflects a historical tendency to use auspicious-sounding names for taboo or dangerous substances to avoid bad luck or to sound more sophisticated. Nowadays, it is almost exclusively used in historical contexts or when discussing the history of drug abuse in Hong Kong.

Examples

ji5以cin4前di1啲jan4人hou2好zung1鍾ji3意sik6食fuk1福sau6壽gou1膏。

People in the past really loved to smoke opium.

teng1聽gong2講keoi5佢ji5以cin4前cam4沉mai4迷gwo3過fuk1福sau6壽gou1膏。

I heard he used to be addicted to opium.

Common phrases

sik6食fuk1福sau6壽gou1膏

to smoke opium

cam4沉mai4迷fuk1福sau6壽gou1膏

to be addicted to opium

Common mistake

Do not use this word to refer to modern drugs like heroin or cocaine, as it is specifically associated with the historical opium trade. Using it in a modern context will sound archaic or confusing to native speakers.