gau1 wu1鳩嗚鸠呜
Definition
To go shopping, used to mock mainland Chinese tourists; a phonetic loan from Mandarin 'gòuwù'.
How it's used
This term is a classic example of how Hong Kong internet culture reclaims and repurposes language. While it phonetically mimics the Mandarin word for shopping, the use of the character 鳩 adds a vulgar, aggressive, and mocking tone that completely changes the nuance from a simple activity to a chaotic or ridiculous one. It is strictly used in casual, often sarcastic contexts to describe shopping sprees, particularly those associated with tourists or excessive consumerism.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word in any formal, professional, or polite setting, as the inclusion of 鳩 makes it highly offensive and vulgar. It is strictly for informal banter among friends or for online political satire.
Grammar color guide
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.
