hung1 hok3 gung1 si1空殼公司空壳公司
Jyutpinghung1 hok3 gung1 si1
Yalehūng hok gūng sī
Definition
Shell company; a registered company without active, independent business operations.
neutralworkmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to a legal entity that exists on paper but lacks active business operations or significant assets. It is frequently used in discussions regarding financial transparency, tax planning, or corporate fraud. The term carries a slightly cynical or suspicious undertone, as it often implies the company is being used for questionable financial maneuvers.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
They opened a shell company to avoid taxes.
Is that shell company really without any business operations?
Related words
Common phrases
register a shell company
use a shell company
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a holding company, which may also have limited operations but serves a legitimate, long-term structural purpose. While a holding company is a standard business tool, an 空殼公司 is often viewed as a temporary or deceptive vehicle.
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.
