kuk1 tai4曲蹄

Jyutpingkuk1 tai4

Yalekūk tàih

Definition

The Dan people, a traditional group of boat dwellers in Fuzhou and coastal Fujian.

datedpeople

How it's used

Historically referring to the Tanka people who lived on boats in the coastal waters of Southern China, this term is now considered outdated and potentially offensive. It is often perceived as derogatory or discriminatory, reflecting a past social stigma against boat-dwelling communities. Modern speakers generally prefer using terms like 水上人 when referring to these groups to avoid the negative connotations associated with historical prejudice.

Examples

ji5以cin4前kuk1曲tai4蹄do1多sou3數dou1都hai6係zyu6住喺hai2艇teng5上soeng6面。

In the past, the boat dwellers mostly lived on boats.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知kuk1曲tai4蹄ge3嘅sang1生wut6活hai6係dim2點joeng2樣㗎？

Do you know what the life of the boat dwellers is like?

Common phrases

kuk1曲tai4蹄teng5艇

boat used by the boat dwellers

Common mistake

Using this term in casual conversation can cause offense because it carries a historical weight of discrimination. It is safer to use 水上人 to describe the group respectfully.