ho4 baau1 zai2荷包仔
Jyutpingho4 baau1 zai2
Yalehòh bāau jái
Definition
A small purse, or slang for a pickpocket.
- small purse; pouch
- slangpickpocket
colloquialpeopleshopping
How it's used
Refers primarily to a small coin purse or wallet, but carries a strong secondary meaning as a thief who targets these items. When used to mean a pickpocket, it is often used as a warning to others in crowded public spaces. The diminutive suffix 仔 adds a sense of informality and can make the object sound cute or the thief sound sneaky.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Be careful of pickpockets when taking the MTR.
How much money is inside your small purse?
Related words
Common phrases
watch out for pickpockets
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 荷包, which is the standard term for a wallet or purse. Using 荷包仔 for a large handbag or backpack sounds unnatural as the suffix specifically implies a small size.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
