gam1 gai1 ngaa5金雞瓦金鸡瓦
Jyutpinggam1 gai1 ngaa5
Yalegām gāi ngáh
Definition
Broken tiles stuck on top of walls to act as a deterrent to prevent thieves from coming in.
colloquialplaceshome
How it's used
Refers specifically to the practice of embedding jagged shards of ceramic or glass into mortar atop walls to deter intruders. While the term literally evokes a golden rooster, it functions as a colloquial label for this defensive architectural feature. You will mostly hear this term from older generations or when discussing historical village architecture in the New Territories.
Examples
In the past, you would often see broken tiles on top of perimeter walls.
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
