gaa3 lei1 gai1咖喱雞咖喱鸡
Jyutpinggaa3 lei1 gai1
Yalega lēi gāi
Definition
Hickey; a kiss mark or love bite.
colloquialbodyslang
How it's used
Using a food term to describe a hickey is a classic example of Cantonese slang relying on visual similarity. The term is playful and slightly teasing, so it is best reserved for friends rather than formal settings. It is a common way to call out someone's romantic activities without being overly explicit.
Measure word
daat3撻datExamples
Why do you have a hickey on your neck?
The hickey on their neck is very obvious.
Related words
Common phrases
to give someone a hickey
Common mistake
Do not use this term in a restaurant, as it will cause immediate confusion. It is strictly slang for a mark on the skin and has no connection to the actual dish of chicken curry.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
