hat1 ji1乞衣
Jyutpinghat1 ji1
Yalehāt yī
Definition
Beggar
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone who begs for money or food in public spaces. While it is the standard term, it carries a blunt and potentially derogatory tone, so it is rarely used to address someone directly. It is often used in casual conversation to describe someone who looks disheveled or is asking for something in a desperate manner.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That beggar has been sitting on the street for a long time.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe someone who is simply poor or struggling financially, as it specifically implies the act of begging. Using it to refer to a homeless person can be seen as insensitive or offensive.
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.
