gwan2 seoi2 ze3 me2滾水借歪滚水借歪
Jyutpinggwan2 seoi2 ze3 me2
Yalegwán séui je mé
Definition
An expression used to ask people to step aside or get out of the way.
colloquialdaily actionsfood
How it's used
Originating from the days of traditional tea houses where waiters carried boiling water through crowded aisles, this phrase serves as an urgent warning to clear the path. It is now used humorously or emphatically in any crowded situation to signal that someone needs to pass quickly. Using it implies you are in a hurry or carrying something cumbersome, making it slightly more aggressive than a simple 唔該.
Examples
Excuse me, coming through with hot water!
Related words
Common phrases
Hot water coming through, move aside
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal settings or with strangers unless you genuinely need to pass through a tight crowd, as it can sound impatient or demanding.
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.
