maai5 lou6 cin4買路錢买路钱
Jyutpingmaai5 lou6 cin4
Yalemáaih louh chìhn
Definition
Money paid to pass through a road, such as toll, ransom to robbers, or joss paper scattered during a funeral.
- money extorted by highway robbers; blackmail
- toll paid for road use
- joss paper scattered on the road during a funeral procession
colloquialmoneyother
How it's used
This term carries a strong historical connotation of extortion by bandits on remote mountain paths. In modern contexts, it is almost exclusively used to refer to the ritualistic practice of scattering paper money during a funeral to appease spirits or ghosts. It is rarely used to describe modern highway tolls, which are typically called 過路費.
Measure word
bat1筆bātExamples
In the past, bandits loved to demand toll money from people.
During a funeral procession, family members scatter joss paper along the way.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe paying a standard government toll or a parking fee, as it implies an illicit or supernatural transaction rather than a legal service fee.
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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.
- How oftenUsually, sometimes, all the time, rarely, never. All five sit in one slot, between the subject and the verb.
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