maai6 san1 kai3賣身契卖身契

Jyutpingmaai6 san1 kai3

Yalemaaih sān kai

名詞

Definition

An indenture contract selling a person into servitude, or figuratively, any long-term restrictive contract.

datedan indenture or deed selling a person into slavery or prostitution
figurativea highly restrictive, long-term employment contract

colloquialworkpeople

How it's used

Originally referring to historical indentures where a person sold their freedom, this term is now almost exclusively used metaphorically to describe jobs with extremely long, restrictive, or exploitative terms. Using it implies that the speaker feels trapped or unfairly bound by their professional obligations. It carries a strong sense of resentment or self-deprecation regarding one's career situation.

Measure word

zoeng1張jēung

Examples

fan2份gung1工gam3咁san1辛fu2苦，hou2好ci5似cim1簽zo2咗maai6賣san1身kai3契gam3咁。

This job is so tough, it feels like I've signed an indenture.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪so4傻㗎，gaa4做zou6咩me1簽cim1呢le1張zoeng1賣maai6身san1契？

Are you crazy? Why did you sign this long-term contract?

Common phrases

cim1簽maai6賣san1身kai3契

to sign an indenture or a very restrictive long-term contract

Common mistake

Do not use this term to refer to standard, fair employment contracts, as it carries a heavy connotation of slavery or extreme exploitation. It is strictly a hyperbolic expression for feeling stuck in a bad job.