maai4 gaai1 sik6 zeng2 seoi2埋街食井水
Jyutpingmaai4 gaai1 sik6 zeng2 seoi2
Yalemàaih gāai sihk jéng séui
Definition
To retire from prostitution and settle down, or more broadly, to quit an occupation and start a new life.
- To stop working as a prostitute, get married, and live a respectable life
- To quit an occupation or way of life and settle down ashore
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Originally referring to boat dwellers settling on land, this phrase evolved to specifically describe a sex worker leaving the industry to live a conventional life. It carries a sense of finality and transition to a stable, settled existence. While it is a vivid and culturally specific idiom, it is considered quite dated and can sound overly dramatic or even slightly derogatory depending on the context.
Examples
After working for a few years, she finally decided to retire from the sex trade.
Related words
Common phrases
decide to retire from prostitution
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe just any career change, as it is specifically tied to the historical context of leaving the sex industry. Using it for a regular office job change will sound confusing or unintentionally offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
