hak1 ce1黑車黑车
Jyutpinghak1 ce1
Yalehāk chē
Definition
A government hearse or corpse-transport vehicle operated by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
colloquialotherpeople
How it's used
Despite the name, these vehicles are now yellow to match the standard Food and Environmental Hygiene Department fleet. The term persists as a dark, colloquial way to refer to the specialized transport used for deceased individuals found in public spaces. It carries a morbid connotation and is rarely used in polite or formal conversation.
Measure word
gaa3架gaExamples
I heard that the hearse van went to the seaside to collect a body again.
Related words
Common phrases
the body collection van is dispatched
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin slang term for an illegal, unlicensed taxi, which is also called 黑車. In Hong Kong, the term is strictly reserved for the specific government vehicle used by the body collection team.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
