ho4 haai5河蟹
Definition
To censor, screen, block, or "harmonize" online content.
How it's used
Originating from internet slang in mainland China, this term relies on the phonetic similarity between the word for river crab and the word for harmonious. It is used exclusively in a sarcastic or critical sense to describe the act of removing content that authorities deem sensitive or undesirable. Because it is a borrowed pun, it carries a strong political undertone and is rarely used in formal or neutral contexts.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe literal censorship in a formal or academic setting, as it is strictly slang. It is also important to remember that it is a transitive verb, so it is almost always used in the passive voice with 畀人 to indicate that something has been censored by an outside force.
Grammar color guide
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.
