hei2 deng1起釘起钉
Jyutpinghei2 deng1
Yalehéi dēng
Definition
To pull out nails, to remove pineapple spikes, or to calculate compound interest on a loan shark's loan.
- to pull out nails
- to remove the spikes of a pineapple
- slangto calculate compound interest, especially for loan sharks
colloquialmoneyfood
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of removing nails or pineapple eyes, this term is heavily associated with predatory lending practices. It implies a sudden, aggressive increase in debt through the compounding of interest. Using it in a financial context carries a strong negative connotation of being exploited by loan sharks.
Examples
He borrowed money and didn't pay it back, so he got hit with compound interest.
Related words
Common phrases
compound interest fee
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the financial meaning with the literal action of removing nails. Ensure the context clearly distinguishes between physical labor and debt-related situations to avoid confusion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
