jat1 gan1 je5一斤嘢
Jyutpingjat1 gan1 je5
Yaleyāt gān yéh
Definition
One hundred dollars.
slangmoney
How it's used
Originating from the weight unit 斤, this slang term uses the weight of a catty to metaphorically represent the number one hundred. It is a classic example of Hong Kong street slang that relies on shared cultural knowledge to disguise the amount being discussed. You will mostly hear this used in casual settings among friends or in market environments where people prefer to use coded language for money.
Examples
These shoes cost a hundred bucks, so expensive.
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal weight of one catty, which is approximately 600 grams. Using this term in a formal business context or with strangers will likely cause confusion or be perceived as unprofessional.
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.
