hung4 mou4 nai4紅毛泥红毛泥
Jyutpinghung4 mou4 nai4
Yalehùhng mòuh nàih
Definition
Cement.
colloquialhomeother
How it's used
This term reflects a historical period when Westerners were colloquially referred to as 紅毛鬼 due to their hair color. While the term is still understood by older generations and in construction contexts, it is increasingly being replaced by the more modern loanword 水泥 or the general term 石屎. Using this word can sound quite old fashioned or specifically tied to traditional construction jargon.
Measure word
baau1包bāuExamples
This renovation requires a lot of cement.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the modern term 水泥, which is the standard word used in most contemporary contexts. Using 紅毛泥 in a modern professional setting might make you sound like you are using outdated slang.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
