laau1 zai2撈仔捞仔
Jyutpinglaau1 zai2
Yalelāau jái
Definition
Derogatory term used by Cantonese speakers to refer to young men from Northern or non-Cantonese-speaking parts of China.
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
Carries a strong xenophobic and discriminatory tone that reflects historical regional tensions. It is considered offensive and should be avoided in polite or professional settings. The term specifically targets young men from Northern China and is rarely used for women or older people.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He always complains that those Northern guys are so noisy.
Don't go around calling people that derogatory term.
Related words
Common phrases
damn Northern guy
Common mistake
Using this term to describe any person from Northern China is highly offensive and can easily lead to confrontation. It is not a neutral way to refer to someone's origin.
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.
