gam1 ngau4金牛
Jyutpinggam1 ngau4
Yalegām ngàuh
Definition
A one-thousand Hong Kong dollar banknote.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Colloquial slang for the HK$1,000 note, the term reflects the golden-yellow hue of the original banknote design. While it remains widely understood, it is primarily used in casual settings when discussing cash or payment. It is distinct from the term 大牛, which historically referred to the HK$500 note before the thousand-dollar bill became the standard high-value note.
Measure word
zoeng1張jēungExamples
Do you have a thousand-dollar note on you to break into smaller change?
He took out a thousand-dollar note to pay for the treat without hesitation.
Related words
Common phrases
take out a thousand-dollar note
break a thousand-dollar note
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of a golden bull, as the term is strictly financial slang. It is also not used for any other currency denominations, so avoid applying it to other banknotes.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
