gam1 pun4 sai2 sau2金盤洗手金盘洗手
Jyutpinggam1 pun4 sai2 sau2
Yalegām pùhn sái sáu
Definition
To retire from a underworld organization, gangster life, or a specific trade or profession.
- to retire from a mafia, triad, or gangster life
- figurativeto retire from a trade, profession, or industry
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Originating from traditional martial arts culture, this idiom implies a formal and permanent renunciation of one's past criminal or illicit activities. While it carries a dramatic weight, it is now frequently used in a lighthearted or hyperbolic way to describe someone quitting a long-term hobby, habit, or a particularly stressful job. It suggests a clean break rather than a gradual transition.
Examples
He said he wants to retire from the underworld and stop working in it.
Related words
Common phrases
decide to retire from the underworld
officially retire from the underworld
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe standard professional retirement, as it specifically implies leaving behind a life of vice, crime, or a morally questionable profession.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
