geoi1 maa5 fai3車馬費车马费
Jyutpinggeoi1 maa5 fai3
Yalegēui máh fai
Definition
Travel allowance, transit subsidy, or transportation expenses.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
Originally referring to the cost of horses and carriages, this term is now a common way to describe a small, often informal, reimbursement for travel costs. It is frequently used in the context of job interviews or casual freelance work where the amount is relatively modest. Unlike formal reimbursement terms, it carries a slightly more flexible and colloquial tone.
Measure word
bat1筆bātExamples
Did you get any travel allowance for your job interview today?
The company will reimburse your travel expenses.
Related words
Common phrases
to claim travel expenses
to subsidize travel costs
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with formal business expenses like 交通津貼, which usually refers to a fixed monthly allowance provided by an employer. Using 車馬費 for large, official corporate travel budgets can sound too informal or imprecise.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
