jat1 lau4 jat1一樓一一楼一
Jyutpingjat1 lau4 jat1
Yaleyāt làuh yāt
Definition
A one-woman brothel; a form of sex work in Hong Kong where one prostitute operates alone in a single apartment.
colloquialpeopleplaces
How it's used
This term specifically refers to a legal loophole where a single sex worker operates alone in a private apartment to avoid being classified as a brothel. It is a common feature of urban life in older districts, often signaled by specific signage or buzzers in residential buildings. The term is descriptive and neutral in tone rather than inherently derogatory.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
There are many one-woman brothels in the tenement building where she lives.
Do you know where to find a one-woman brothel?
Related words
Common phrases
one-woman brothel in a tenement building
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a massage parlor or a larger illegal brothel, as the defining feature of an 一樓一 is the solitary nature of the worker to comply with local laws.
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).
