kaa1 hau2卡口

Jyutpingkaa1 hau2

Yalekā háu

Definition

A customs checkpoint or toll gate for collecting taxes, historically operated by governments or local bandits.

colloquialplacesmoney

How it's used

Refers specifically to a physical barrier or station used to control movement and extract payment, often implying a sense of being squeezed or forced to pay. While it can refer to official government checkpoints, it frequently carries a historical or slightly negative connotation of illicit toll collection by local strongmen or bandits. It is rarely used for modern international border crossings, where 關口 is the standard term.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

ji5以cin4前nei1呢dou6度jau5有go3個kaa1卡hau2口sau1收gwo3過lou6路fai3費。

There used to be a customs checkpoint here to collect tolls.

keoi5佢dei6哋喺hai2邊bin1個go3卡kaa1口hau2截zit6住zyu6啲di1貨fo3車ce1呀？

At which checkpoint did they intercept the trucks?

Common phrases

cit3設kaa1卡

to set up a checkpoint

gwo3過kaa1卡

to pass through a checkpoint

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the technical term for a camera lens mount, which is also written as 卡口 in some contexts but refers to a mechanical connection rather than a tax checkpoint.