jat1 man1 gai1一蚊雞一蚊鸡
Jyutpingjat1 man1 gai1
Yaleyāt mān gāi
Definition
One dollar.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Despite the literal inclusion of chicken, this term has nothing to do with poultry. It is a classic piece of Hong Kong slang used to emphasize how small or insignificant an amount of money is. You will often hear it used when someone wants to highlight that something is dirt cheap or when they are feeling slightly self-deprecating about their own lack of funds.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
This toy is very cheap, it's only one dollar.
Do you still have one dollar on you?
Related words
Common phrases
don't even have a single dollar
Common mistake
Do not use this in formal contexts like business meetings or banking, as it sounds very casual and slightly childish. It is strictly for informal chat among friends or family.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
