maai4 gwai6埋櫃埋柜
Jyutpingmaai4 gwai6
Yalemàaih gwaih
Definition
To balance the cash register or calculate the daily profit and balance at the end of a workday.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Originating from the retail and restaurant industry, this term specifically refers to the process of counting cash and reconciling sales records at the end of a shift. It implies the finality of the workday and is almost exclusively used by staff or owners closing a physical shop. While it literally involves the counter, the focus is on the financial reconciliation rather than the physical act of cleaning up.
Examples
Have you finished work yet? Hurry up and finish the daily accounts.
Business was good today, did the accounts balance when you closed up?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 埋單, which refers to a customer paying their individual bill at a restaurant. 埋櫃 is strictly an internal accounting task performed by staff after the shop has stopped serving customers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
