laai1 sin3拉線拉线
Jyutpinglaai1 sin3
Yalelāai sin
Definition
To lay, install, or run cables and wiring, such as electrical or network cables.
colloquialworkhome
How it's used
Primarily used in the context of home renovation or office setup, this term specifically refers to the physical act of routing wires through walls or ceilings. It is distinct from simply plugging in a device, as it implies a more permanent installation process. You will often hear it used when discussing internet connectivity or electrical upgrades.
Examples
Has the technician arrived yet? He needs to lay cables for me.
Renovating the house and laying cables is really a hassle.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term for networking or pulling strings in a social sense, as the Cantonese usage is almost exclusively focused on physical electrical or data cabling.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
