haau1 zuk1 gong3敲竹槓敲竹杠

Jyutpinghaau1 zuk1 gong3

Yalehāau jūk gong

動詞

Definition

To cheat or extort money from someone by exploiting their weaknesses, or to overcharge excessively.

to fleece, extort, or cheat someone for money by exploiting their weaknesses
to overcharge or rip off by setting prices excessively high

colloquialmoneypeople

How it's used

Originating from the practice of tapping on hollow bamboo to create a sound, this idiom implies a calculated exploitation of someone's vulnerability or ignorance. It is almost exclusively used to describe situations where a seller or service provider charges an exorbitant, unfair price to an unsuspecting target. It carries a strong sense of moral disapproval and is often used when someone feels they are being taken advantage of in a transaction.

Examples

keoi5佢gin3見nei5你hai6係jau4遊haak3客zau6就zyun1專dang1登haau1敲zuk1竹gong3槓。

He deliberately overcharged you just because you are a tourist.

nei5你m4唔hou2好nam2諗zyu6住hau4敲ngo5我zuk1竹gong3槓aa4呀，ngo5我zi1知si5市gaa3價㗎。

Don't even think about ripping me off, I know the market price.

Common phrases

zyun1專dang1登haau1敲zuk1竹gong3槓

deliberately rip someone off

bei2畀jan4人haau1敲zuk1竹gong3槓

to be ripped off

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general term for stealing or robbery, but it specifically refers to extortionate pricing or deceptive overcharging. It is not used for physical theft or mugging.