laai1 haak3拉客
Jyutpinglaai1 haak3
Yalelāai haak
Definition
To solicit customers, especially by approaching people directly on the street.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This term carries a strong negative connotation of being pushy or intrusive. It is frequently used to describe aggressive sales tactics in crowded areas like Mong Kok or Causeway Bay, where vendors might physically block your path. While it can apply to various businesses, it is most commonly associated with street-level hawking or persistent touts.
Examples
Those people soliciting customers on the street are really annoying.
Related words
Common phrases
soliciting customers on the street
aggressively soliciting customers
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the neutral act of attracting customers, such as advertising or marketing. Using 拉客 to describe a standard shop owner simply waiting for customers is incorrect, as it specifically implies an active, often unwanted, physical approach.
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.
